Fall 2006

GK 324 • Greek Poetry

Course Description

In this class we will examine the themes of love and sexuality in ancient Greek poetry, from the archaic period to the Hellenistic period. We will look first at selections from the Homeric Hymns and early Greek lyric, before turning to the Hellenistic literature of Apollonius of Rhodes, Theocritus and others. In the first half of the course students will gain an understanding of the language and tropes of early literature dealing with the themes of love, while in the second half they will examine how the Alexandrians adapted the forms and structures of their predecessors to create innovative new poetry. Texts: West, M.L., Homeric Hymns, Homeric Apocrypha, Lives of Homer, Loeb, 2003. Hunter, R., Apollonius of Rhodes: Argonautica: Book III, Cambridge, 1989. Campbell, M., Mochus: Europa, Hildesheim, 1991. Grading: Midterm 25% Essay 25% Final 40% Class Participation/Homework 10%

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