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GRC30200

Academic Year 2025/2026

Greek Tragedy and Myth (GRC30200)

Subject:
Greek & Roman Civilization
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Classics
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Christopher Farrell
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module will be delivered in Autumn 25-26 by Dr Evelien Bracke

Greek tragedy has had a profound and lasting influence on European and Mediterranean cultures, and the surviving plays are still regularly performed around the world. This module examines the sociopolitical and theatrical contexts of the original performances in 5th-century Athens. It also discusses the dramatists’ use of myth to engage with complex questions on justice, power, gender, and the human relationship with the gods.

In Autumn 25-26 we will study five of the most well-known plays: Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Pseudo-Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, Sophocles’ Antigone, and Euripides’ Trojan Women and Bacchae.

As part of our thematic discussions, we also look at modern uses of these plays which reveal why they continue to resonate in our current age of geopolitical tensions, climate crisis, and technological developments. Marina Carr’s play The God and his Daughter, which will be staged in the Abbey Theatre, and attending the performance will be an optional part of the module.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Engage critically with the sociopolitical and theatrical world of 5th-century Athens and understand how it shaped and was shaped by the plays we study;
• Demonstrate critical understanding of the prescribed plays as works of literature that raise questions about justice, identity, and power;
• Evaluate the content and sociopolitical context of modern interpretations of the prescribed plays – from stage and novels to social media and politics;
• Contribute constructively to group discussions;
• Construct relevant written and creative work on the prescribed plays.


Indicative Module Content:

In Autumn 25-26 we will study five of the most well-known plays: Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Pseudo-Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, Sophocles’ Antigone, and Euripides’ Trojan Women and Bacchae.

Prescribed Texts
Aeschylus Agamemnon
Collard, C. (tr.) 2008. Oresteia. Oxford University Press. Please only read the first play.

Ps.-Aeschylus Prometheus Bound
Sommerstein, A. (ed., tr.) 2009. Aeschylus: Persians, Seven Against Thebes, Suppliants, Prometheus Bound. Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press. < https://go.exlibris.link/syNw6GVq >

Sophocles Antigone
Rayor, D. (tr.) 2011. Sophocles' Antigone. Cambridge University Press.

Euripides Medea
Rayor, D. (tr.) 2013. Euripides’ Medea. Cambridge University Press. < https://go.exlibris.link/dJWJcXdg >

Euripides Bacchae
Poochigian, A. (tr.) 2021. Euripides Bacchae. W.W. Norton & Company. < https://go.exlibris.link/YX1g3Y3t >

Copies of these texts can be accessed in the UCD library.
Please bring (a laptop/tablet or printed version with) the appropriate texts to lectures and tutorials at all times. It is important that you have the prescribed translations, because it is from these that passages in tutorials and assessment will be drawn.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

11
Tutorial

5
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

34
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials. The lectures give information about Greek tragedy, and outline the main issues of interpretation of the five plays studied in Autumn 25-26. The tutorials discuss the plays in more in detail in small groups.

Please bring (a laptop/tablet or printed version with) the appropriate texts to lectures and tutorials at all times. It is important that you have the prescribed translations, because it is from these that passages in tutorials and assessment will be drawn.

AI usage for this module is Amber. You are allowed to use Generative AI in order to:
(1) compose and format your bibliography
(2) help you structure your arguments.
Any references to, or use of, AI-generated text needs to be put in inverted commas, like any quotes from other texts.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: preparation for and participation in tutorials Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 2,000 word essay. This cannot draw on the same play studied in the blog post assignment. Week 6 Graded No
40
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 1,800-2,000 word Blog Post. This cannot draw on the same play studied in the first assignment. Week 14 Graded No
40
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the written assignment will be returned to the students through Brightspace as soon as possible after submission, but within 20 working days. The lecturer will be available to give further individual feedback on request.

Name Role
Evelien Bracke Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Bridget Martin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 11 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 12 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 11 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 12 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
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