Telling Stories in Greek and Roman Culture
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR4009 | Classics and Archaeology | 4 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- CLAR4009
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This is an interdisciplinary MA module which focuses on the ways that the stories we tell shape the things that we think. It explores not just literary, historical and visual narratives and their workings, but also constructions of history, society and culture, both Greek and Roman, ancient and modern. We will follow student interests in developing a specific programme for the module, but the sort of topics that might be covered include: plot in ancient novels, narratology, rhetoric, historiography, narrative art, ekphrasis, silence, literary self-positioning, and dealing with fragmentary sources.
Target Students
Level 4 MA in Classics students
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 15% Coursework 1: Two-page essay plan and annotated bibliography
- 85% Coursework 2: 4000 word essay
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To think about the ways that narratives shape ideas, not just in the literature but also the history and art of the Classical world; to develop students' skills in postgraduate study of the Classical world; to cover a broad range of literary, historical and artistic material in various periods of the Classical world; to explore a variety of methodologies used in the study of Classical literature, history and art.Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module students should have:
- familiarity with and ability to draw connections between a wide range of material in Greek and Roman literature, history, culture and society;
- ability to apply a range of methodologies relevant to the study of narratives in Classical antiquity;
- understanding of how the academic discipline of Classics has evolved in recent decades, particularly in its attitudes to the communication of narratives;
- ability to identify and evaluate problems in the study and use of Greek and Roman literature, history and art, within an intellectual framework informed by current scholarship;
- ability to locate, select, analyse and evaluate critically at an advanced level a variety of ancient evidence and secondary literature relevant to specific issues or problems;
- ability to show initiative in approach to topics, with evidence of advanced critical and original thinking;
- ability to devise a research topic and select appropriate methodologies;
- ability to read, analyse and explore Greek and/or Latin texts in translation and/or in the original;
- ability to articulate knowledge and critical awareness of chosen topics in the literature, history and art of classical antiquity, both orally and in writing; ability to plan, research and write up a coherent piece of extended work;
- ability to present written work to a high standard; ability to make effective use of a range of bibliographic and other resources, both printed and electronic; enhanced ability to work productively with others.