Greek 4043: Aristophanes Thesmophoriazousai.
Spring, 2009.
Welcome to Greek Comedy! This term we will read a play that Douglas MacDowell
calls the pre-eminent example of Aristophanic ‘pure entertainment’ (Aristophanes
and Athens: An Introduction to the Plays (Oxford, 1995) p. 273). His
introduction to he play is excellent. I have summarized it on the introduction page.
We will read as much of this play as we can in Greek, and examine some
scholarly studies of it. We will look at what is actually known about the
Thesmophoria at Athens, and at the basic elements of the Athenian comic
theater and its audience. By the Friday after Spring Break, each student
will choose a short passage to translate literally and artistically. Students
will present these translations on last two days of class. Each student
willl read and report on three articles/chapters on the play, to be chosen
from the list on the bibliography
page. These presentations are on the calendar of classes below.
Grades will be based on class participation/preparation
(30%), oral presentations (20%) , written work (20%), secret
word presentations (10%), and final examination (20%).
Required Texts include:
1. Joseph F. Gannon: Aristophanes’ Thesmophoriazusae (Bryn Mawr
Greek Commentaries, 1987).
2. Jeffrey Henderson Artisophanes Birds Lysistrata Women at the Thesmophoria
(Loeb Classical Library, 2000).
Professor Daniel B. Levine
Department of Foreign Languages (Classical Studies)
Kimpel Hall 425, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR 72701. dlevine@uark.edu
Office telephones: 479-575-2951; 575-5937 (direct).
Office Hours in Kimpel Hall 502: MWF 09:30-10:20 MWF and by appointment.
Tentative schedule of classes. Spring,
2009. Aristophanes Thesmophoriazousai.
Week 1
Monday, January 12. Welcome. Introduction.
Wednesday, January 14. Thesmophoria and other Festivals of Boiled Bean
Month (H. W. Parke Festivals of the Athenians: “Pyanepsion”)
pp. 73-94.
Friday, January 16. Aristophanes and Athenian Theater. (J. Henderson:
Introduction to Loeb Aristophanes, vol.1) pp. 1-37.
Week 2
Monday, January 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. No Class.
Wednesday, January 21
Friday, January 23
Week 3
Monday, January 26
Wednesday, January 28 ICE DAY.
Friday, January 30. ICE DAY.
Week 4
Monday, February 02. line 158
Wednesday, February 04. line 192
Friday, February 06. Student Report #1, #2: JUSTIN, KEENAN
Week 5
Monday, February 09. line 235
Wednesday, February 11. line 259
Friday, February 13 Student Report #3, #4: LAUREN, ROB.
Week 6
Monday, February 16
Wednesday, February 18
Friday, February 20
Week 7
Monday, February 23
Wednesday, February 25
Friday, February 27 Student Report #5, #6.: SAM, CASS.
Week 8
Monday, March 02
Wednesday, March 04
Friday, March 06 Student Report #7, #8
Week 9
Monday, March 09
Wednesday, March 11
Friday, March 13
SPRING BREAK (no class March 16, 18, 20)
Week 10
Monday, March 23 Student Report #9, #10.
Wednesday, March 25
Friday, March 27 REVIEW. Inform Professor in writing which passage you
chose to translate.
Week 11
Monday, March 30
Wednesday, April 01
Friday, April 03 POSSIBLE FILM: ARISTOPHANES
Week 12
Monday, April 06 Student Report #11, #12.
Wednesday, April 08
Friday, April 10 REVIEW
Week 13
Monday, April 13
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17 Student Report #13, #14.
Week 14
Monday, April 20.
Wednesday, April 22
Friday, April 24 Student Report #15.
Week 15
Monday, April 27 Presentations of Student Translations.
Wednesday, April 29 Presentations of Student Translations.
Friday, May 01 Dead Day.
Final Examination TBA.
Return to Main Page: Greek 4043 ARISTOPHANES
THESMOPHORIAZOUSAI
Recent Comments