UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
FALL, 2005. GREEK 2003:
NEW TESTAMENT GREEK, PLATO
Professor D. B. Levine
SYLLABUS
Welcome back to Greek! This semester we will read lots
of ‘real’ Greek. Our object is to solidify the grammar and vocabulary which
we learned in Elementary Greek, and to gain a facility in reading and understanding
Greek prose. Our texts are:
The Greek New Testament, With Dictionary (Aland)
Acts (Bryn Mawr Commentary,
by Richard Hamilton)
Plato Apology (Text
and Commentary: Gilbert Rose)
Students should also have the abridged version of Liddell
and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon.
In addition, the professor will provide other materials
(especially on the Septuagint at the beginning of the semester).
Class Procedures/Grades:
Each class will begin with the Secret Words which students
will present. Secret Words will be fair game for all examinations and quizzes.
Students will come to class prepared to translate and explain
the grammatical forms of the homework assignments.
There will be short quizzes on translation and grammar.
We will have quizzes on principal parts.
There will be hour examinations at the middle and end of the semester. Grades
will be based on the quality of Class Participation/Preparation (25%), Written Assignments (25%), quizzes (20%), secret word presentations (10%), and
examinations (20%).
A= 90-100, B= 80-89, C= 70-79, D= 60-69.
Reading Greek
Reading Greek is an exercise that — as it occurs — increases
the student’s power. The more one reads, the more effectively one can read
further. Reading Greek is an example of mental calisthenics (= ‘beautiful
strength’). It is important, especially when reading Biblical Greek, to
read the Greek and translate it literally, without using a translation until
you have made your own. Practice reading aloud. Always look for subjects
and verbs. Translate participles as participles. Recognize moods and tenses
and translate literally. Do not write out translations in English. Do not
make interlinear notes in your text. If you like, you may make lists of
words you look up, make notes about their form, and the way to translate
them in this particular context. Put numbered references beside the words
so you can find them easily again. It is important to re-read the Greek
before coming to class, so you remember how to translate the Greek, while
looking at the Greek. Avoid memorizing English translations.
Reading Greek — like all good things — takes much energy
(= ‘work in’). Nothing good comes easily. As Hesiod says:
Work is not disgrace, but idleness is disgrace.
And if you continue to work, very soon an idle one will
envy you
As you grow wealthy. And excellence and glory follow a
rich man.
(Hesiod, Works and Days 311-313)
and,
And if the heart in your chest is desirous of wealth,
Do thus, and work work upon work.
(Hesiod, Works and Days 381-382)
Remember, we will be reading texts that were written by
people who spoke Greek for people who read and understood it.
The selections from the Septuagint and the New Testament
will be relatively simple. The Septuagint is a translation of the Hebrew
Bible composed in Hellenistic Alexandria for the Jews there who knew Greek
better than Hebrew. The New Testament was written by men whose native language
was probably not Greek, and whose audience was the population of the Mediterranean
basin who knew the koine or “common” Greek language that was the
lingua franca of the Hellenistic and Roman world.
Following these selections, we will go back in time to
the fourth century BCE, and read selections from Plato’s Apology of Socrates,
a series of three speeches given on his own behalf by Plato’s beloved teacher
as he was tried for corrupting the youth of Athens and not worshipping the
gods of the city. We shall also read the other Dialogues associated with
the trial and death of Socrates.
D. B. Levine. Kimpel Hall 502; Office Hours: MWF 10:30-11:20,
and by appt. Telephone: 575-5937 (Office), 521-3294 (Home); Email: dlevine@uark.edu
Fax: 575-6795
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