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English 240: Ancient Literature Course Policies Al Drake. Office: Classroom, T/Th 10:30-11:30 | ajdrake@ajdrake.com Required Texts: Aeschylus. The Oresteia. Trans. Robert Fagles. NY: Penguin, 1984. ISBN: 0140443339. Aristotle. Poetics. Trans. Seth Bernardete. St. Augustine Press, 2002. ISBN: 1587310260. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. NY: Penguin, 1999. ISBN: 0140268863. Ovid. Metamorphoses. Trans. A.D. Melville. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998. ISBN: 019283472X. Plato. Four Texts on Socrates. Plato’s Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito, and Aristophanes’ Clouds. Translators West, Thomas G. and Grace West. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1998. ISBN: 0801485746. Sophocles. Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. NY: Penguin, 2000. ISBN: 0140444254. Virgil. The Aeneid. Trans. Allen Mandelbaum. New York: Bantam, 1981. ISBN: 0553210416. Course Objectives: E240 is a survey in ancient literature that could, of course, be structured many different ways. I have chosen to focus on a relatively compact list of significant authors in Western literature: Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Virgil, and Ovid. So the emphasis will be on epic and tragedy, and on the Greeks and Romans. We shall read the assigned texts as carefully as possible given the constraints of a single-semester experience. Lectures will provide an understanding of the works' historical context, structures, and themes, while classroom discussion will center on attention to key points in the texts. Where appropriate, we shall explore the links we find among our various readings. But the most general purpose of a survey is to introduce periods, genres, and texts in a way that encourages you to begin discovering what most interests you. My aim is not to offer definitive interpretations; rather, it is to communicate what I find valuable in the readings and challenge you to do the same. By no means do I believe that any one survey could introduce you to all there is to learn about ancient literature -- I would certainly suggest that as time permits, you study the literature, history, philosophies, and religions of as many different cultures as you can. Finally, please read the following guide: How to Get the Most from College. Major Study Units: The course will for the most part follow a chronological order, with the exception that we shall discuss Aristotle before we begin reading our tragedies. Keep in mind that Aristotle derived his theory of tragedy in The Poetics from his reading of texts by dramatists who wrote before him, so we should not take his views as prescriptive or all-encompassing. Classroom Strategies: Lecture; class discussion, film versions of the tragedies to supplement our reading. There will be a strong web presence for the course, with as many materials as possible being made available online. Please examine all the study questions as you read the assigned texts -- even the ones that you don't write about for your journal requirement. They will help you get the most out of class discussions. Methods of Evaluation: 5-7 page paper. 30%. Follow MLA guidelines. Rough draft required. Journal Requirement. See instructions. 30%. In-class final exam. Open book, open note, short paragraph and essay answers only. 30%. Attendance. 10% (Will begin with Wk 2: 0-3 absences = A; 4-5 = B; 6-8 = C; 9-11 = D; more than 11 = F.) Make-up Exams, Paper Drafts: I reserve the right not to accept final drafts not preceded by a rough draft. A paper becomes late when one doesn't get it to me (in person or as an email attachment) by midnight on the day the paper is due in class. If you email your paper, I will respond with a verification that I've received it; it is your responsibility to call me at 714-434-1612 if you do not receive a timely verification message. Plagiarism: As I'm sure everyone in this class knows, cheating on papers and tests will result in an "F" for the course and more -- in severe or repeated cases, it can lead to suspension or even expulsion from school altogether. But since many problems in this area are caused by students not yet knowing how to deal with source materials, I require that everyone read my guides Proper Citation and Plagiphrasing before writing the first paper. Chapman Links: Home Page | Wilkinson College | Communication Arts | English Dept. | Undergrad Catalog | Clarke Library
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