Greek Literature Ma
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
Learning goal of this course is to provide the students with the methodological skills for an advanced approach - in terms of textual comprehension and literary interpretation - to the Greek literature (from the Archaic to the Greek-Roman period), through the discussion of some case studies.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: students are expected to gain a complete control of the historic development of the Greek literature and a deep knowledge of the literary genres (formal patterns, contents, socio-cultural impact); they are also expected to know the main lines of the scholarly discussion, at least over the last decades.
Ability: students will be able to read in Greek all the texts of the Greek literature and to discuss them with critical attitude by placing them in their historical, literary and cultural contexts; students will be also familiar with the bibliographic databases and with the most useful tools of humanistic informatics.
Ability: students will be able to read in Greek all the texts of the Greek literature and to discuss them with critical attitude by placing them in their historical, literary and cultural contexts; students will be also familiar with the bibliographic databases and with the most useful tools of humanistic informatics.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course will focus on the following topics: Unit A) Sappho's poetry; Unit B): archaic Greek elegy and iambus; Unit C): Pindar's victory odes.
Prerequisites for admission
A good knowledge of Greek language and Greek literature (at least at a bachelor's level) is required.
Teaching methods
The teacher, after giving a general presentation of Greek lyric poetry (insisting on some pivotal aspects such as: performance, audience, social context and "pragmatic" effect of poetry in the archaic polis) proposes to read, translate and discuss a broad selection of texts (about 500 lines for each unit). Students (attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended) are expected to react with questions or comments; they can ask questions throughout the class or mail them to the teacher (who will answer by mail or in class); an interactive presence is vigorously encouraged. On the web page of the course (on the online teaching platform "Ariel") students will find a large amount of documents that can be useful for their exam preparation: Greek texts with Italian translations, notes written by the teacher. The unit on Sappho is intended to be organised as a seminar: five lectures will be held by scholars from other Universities, who are going to discuss different problems or topics, according to their personal approach to Sappho and her poetry.
Teaching Resources
Students are invited to use following editions:
Unit A) (Sappho): Saffo, Poesie, frammenti e testimonianze, a cura di C. Neri e F. Cinti, Santarcangelo di Romagna (Rusconi Libri) 2018
Unit B) (Archaic elegy and iambus): A. Aloni - A. Iannucci, L'elegia greca e l'epigramma dalle origini al V secolo, Firenze (Le Monnier) 2007; Archiloco, Frammenti, a cura di N. Russello, Milano (BUR) 1993; Lirici greci. Poeti giambici, a cura di A. Aloni, Milano (Oscar Mondadori) 1993.
Unit C) (Pindar's victory odes): Pindaro, Le Olimpiche, introduzione, testo critico e traduzione di B. Gentili; commento a cura di C. Catenacci, P. Giannini e L. Lomiento, Milano (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore) 2013; Pindaro, Le Pitiche, introduzione, testo critico e traduzione di B. Gentili; commento a cura di P. Angeli Bernardini, Milano (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore) 2000; Pindaro, Le Istmiche, a cura di G.A. Privitera, Milano (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore) 1982.
Unit A) (Sappho): Saffo, Poesie, frammenti e testimonianze, a cura di C. Neri e F. Cinti, Santarcangelo di Romagna (Rusconi Libri) 2018
Unit B) (Archaic elegy and iambus): A. Aloni - A. Iannucci, L'elegia greca e l'epigramma dalle origini al V secolo, Firenze (Le Monnier) 2007; Archiloco, Frammenti, a cura di N. Russello, Milano (BUR) 1993; Lirici greci. Poeti giambici, a cura di A. Aloni, Milano (Oscar Mondadori) 1993.
Unit C) (Pindar's victory odes): Pindaro, Le Olimpiche, introduzione, testo critico e traduzione di B. Gentili; commento a cura di C. Catenacci, P. Giannini e L. Lomiento, Milano (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore) 2013; Pindaro, Le Pitiche, introduzione, testo critico e traduzione di B. Gentili; commento a cura di P. Angeli Bernardini, Milano (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore) 2000; Pindaro, Le Istmiche, a cura di G.A. Privitera, Milano (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore) 1982.
Assessment methods and Criteria
At the end of the course students must pass an oral exam, where they are asked to read, translate and comment some passages (chosen by the teacher) of the texts which have been treated in class, and to answer questions which arise from the discussion. The exam is intended to evaluate the quality of their knowledge (comprehension of Greek, precision in translating, command of the history of Greek literature) and their ability in discussing problems through an appropriate use of categories and methodology of literary interpretation. The evaluation is expressed in numerical marks out of thirty (from 0 to 30); a mark equal or higher than 18/30 means a sufficient attainment of the expected learning objectives; a mark lower than 18/30 means that the attainment of the learning targets is, at least partially, lacking; in this case students must repeat the exam, after improving their preparation (the teacher is of course available for suggestions and assistance).
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/02 - GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/02 - GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/02 - GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)