Spring 2009

GK 365 • Homer and His Ancient Readers

Course Description

In this course we will read significant sections of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey in the original Greek, but also read other ancient Greek texts that comment upon, criticize, rewrite, or in other ways engage with the Homeric poems. Homer lies at the beginning of Western literature, but one could argue that the responses engendered by his poetry have been just as influential and important. The goal is to achieve an understanding not just of Homeric poetry itself, but of how later ancient Greeks perceived and reacted to it. Some texts/authors include Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Poetics, Herodotus, ancient Homeric commentaries, etc. Grades will be based on class participation (20%), exams consisting of translation and short essays (50%), and a final project (30%) in which the student will chart the history of the reception of a Homeric passage of their choice.

Texts

Homer: The Odyssey I-XII (ed. W. Stanford). Duckworth. A.R. Benner, Selections from Homer's Iliad. Borgo Press. Course Packet with ancient Homeric commentaries

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