Introduction to Reading Ancient Greek:
Homer’s Odyssey
Greek 214
University of Delaware
Spring 2008
 

Dr. Annette L. Giesecke; 111 Jastak-Burgess Hall, Available Office: Th 11:12 and by appointment. alg@udel.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  In the course of the semester, students will be introduced to the epic poetry of Homer. Readings from the Odyssey will be accompanied by review of essential grammar and discussion of all parts of the famous "Homeric Question" : Was there a poet called Homer? Where was he born? Are the Iliad and Odyssey his work? Were the poems composed orally or in writing? Do the Homeric poems accurately reflect any historical period? What is the purpose of the poems, and why have they managed to resonate with audiences for thousands of years?

TEXTS:  Homer's Odyssey IX. ed. J.V. Muir. Bristol Classical Press.
  The Epic City. Annette L. Giesecke. Harvard University Press.
recommended for those really serious about Greek: A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect. R. J. Cunliffe. U. of Oklahoma Press. 1924/1980.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Attendance is an absolute must for success in the course, and students are encouraged to participate even though they may feel unsure of their mastery of the topic at hand. There is never any shame in trying – only in failing to try.  Course components will be weighted as follows:

Class Participation 45% (which entails bodily presence)
Midterm Test: 20%
Project: 10%
Final:  25%

The Project may take a wide range of forms ranging from a paper to a "model" and will entail a brief presentation to the class. Possible topics: life in the Bronze Age, seafaring in the Bronze Age, rhapsodess and epic poetry, the Panatheneia aand the place of the Homeric epics in Athenian life and culture, Homer and Alexander the Great, later interpretations of the Odyssey (in Roman art, classsical or modern literature, etc)

Honors Section Addendum: Honors students will be asked to translate a somewhat lengthier passage on the Midterm and Final (5 lines maximum), and they will be asked to give a 15 minute rather than a 10 minute presentation of the project.

Assignments :

Feb. 12: introduction and proem, Book 1
14: Book 9, lines 1-28 (this is what we're reading in class, so please have it prepared ahead of time)

19: 29-55
21: 56-81

26: 82-111
28: 112-139

March 4: 140-169
6: 170-201

11: 202-227
13: 228-255

18: MIDTERM TEST
20: 256-286

25: 287-314
27: 315-342
                          SPRING BREAK
April 8: 343-370
10: 371-400

15:401-430
17: 431-460

22: 461-490
24: 491-519

29: 520-542
May 1: 543-566 (end Boook 9)

6: Book 10: 1-27 (Aeolus)
8: 28-55

13: 244-269 (Circe)
15: 270-306

20: Book 7: 78-132 (Phaiakians)
 

For Dec. 3: we will pick up at line 455.