GRK30110 Greek Texts: Epic

Academic Year 2021/2022

In this module we will read excerpts from Odyssey 7 and 8 in ancient Greek. In addition, we will consider these books' exploration of the key Homeric theme of hospitality, and of the role of the Phaeacians in the poem. We will also consider larger questions such as the nature of heroism in the Homeric poems and the Troy myth in Western literature. PLEASE NOTE that the School of Classics reserves the right to withdraw modules in the period up to and including the first week of the teaching trimester.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of Odyssey 7 and 8 in the ancient Greek, and the whole of the Odyssey in translation.
- Recognise specific features of the oral epic dialect, and to translate them with fluency.
- Show understanding of Odyssey 7 and 8’s place in the plot of the Iliad as a whole, and make and explore connections between these book and other significant passages in the poem.
- Show understanding of the nature of hospitality as depicted in the Odyssey, and how various characters fail or succeed in living up to that ideal.

Indicative Module Content:

This module is language-intensive, focused on Greek-to-English translation of unadapted passages of Homer.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

6

Seminar (or Webinar)

12

Specified Learning Activities

36

Autonomous Student Learning

48

Total

102

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Class time will be devoted to translation of the primary text, with some discussion of points of historical and literary interest along the way. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students taking this module should have at least a year’s experience of Greek language study.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Class Test: 1 hour in class test (1) Week 5 n/a Graded No

35

Class Test: 1 hour in class test (2) Week 9 n/a Graded No

35

Essay: 2000 word essay Week 12 n/a Graded No

30


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will sit two mid-semester examinations, relating to the passages of text they have translated and discussed in classes in previous weeks. Feedback will be delivered in a follow-up class, in which they will review and discuss their answers