Greek Tragedy
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR3046 | Classics and Archaeology | 3 | 40 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- CLAR3046
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 40
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
In this module, we will study a varied selection of Greek tragedies from the fifth century BC, from a variety of critical perspectives. These may include approaches such as historicism (how do the tragedies fit into and interact with the world of the fifth century Athenian democracy?), performance (including the study of tragedy as a form of choral poetry), mythology and religion, and more literary approaches (construction of plays, the representation of character, imagery). Through approaches such as these and others, we will try to find ways of handling central tragic questions: why might we be attracted to watching the enactment of suffering? what did these profound, moving and frequently strange dramas mean in their own world and what can they mean in ours?
Target Students
Only available to Undergraduate level 3 students on Single and Joint Honours degrees in the Department of Classics and Archaeology.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 20 weeks
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 20 weeks
Assessment
- 30% Coursework 1: 3000 word essay
- 5% Presentation 1: Presentation in Autumn semester
- 30% Coursework 2: 1 x 3000 word essay
- 5% Presentation 2: Presentation - Spring Semester
- 30% Exam 1 (2-hour): One 2 hour exam at the end of the Spring semester.
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
1) To study in depth a varied selection of Greek tragedies from the fifth century BC, exploring and reflecting upon one’s own and other’s responses to them.2) To explore and critically engage with a variety of critical perspectives by which tragedy has been described, analysed and interpreted.3) In particular, to explore and reflect upon the ways in which tragedies may be read in the light of their historical contexts of production and performance, their status as performed texts and their literary qualities.Learning Outcomes
1) Knowledge and Understanding: a) full and detailed knowledge of a variety of primary texts from antiquity; b) knowledge of a variety of instances of modern receptions of these texts in performance; c) understanding of different approaches to these texts and receptions, and of ways of evaluating these approaches and engaging critically with them.
2) Intellectual skills: a) ability to handle both primary texts (including texts experienced in writing and in performance) and a variety of scholarship and engage with it critically, and to synthesis and evaluate views; b) research skills, especially with regard to library use, independent research for coursework and presentations, referencing skills; c) skills of writing and presentation; d) the exercise of literary and historical judgement.
3) Transferable skills: a) selection, synthesis and evaluation of material from a wide range of sources; b) skills in writing independently at a high level; c) skills in presenting and defending and discussing ideas orally; d) organisational and research skills, working under pressure and meeting deadlines.