Tentative Schedule:
Honors Colloquium on Greek Comedy (CLST 4003H)
Spring, 2020: University of Arkansas.
Professor Daniel B. Levine
Illustration: Two girls playing with knucklebones (astragaloi).
Perhaps from Taranto. Terra-cotta, 340-330 BCE. British Museum.
Week 1
Tuesday, January 14: Welcome and Preview
Thursday, January 16: Background: Dithyramb, Tragedy and Satyr Plays
Reading Assignment: Sophocles’ Tracking Satyrs and Euripides’ Cyclops. They are available at the following links:
Euripides’ Cyclops (Length: about 710 lines) Click here to read the Cyclops, translated by David Kovacs.
Sophocles’ Tracking Satyrs (Length: about 410 lines) available here: Tracking Saytrs translated by Richard Johnson Walker.
Writing Assignment: Write a short essay about some characteristics the two plays have in common. Try to list some characteristics of the Satyr Play genre based on your readings. Also, write two questions which your reading prompts (total not to exceed three pages, double-spaced, 12-point type). Due in class. No late papers, please.
CLICK HERE TO SEE IMAGES OF SATYRS AND SATYR PLAY
Week 2
Tuesday, January 21. Introduction to Aristophanes.
Reading Assignment: Henderson vol. 1 Preface and Introduction (pages vii-39), and MacDowell Preface (p. v-vi), and Chapters 1 (Intention and Interpretation, pages 1-6) and 2 (The Audience and its Expectations, pages 7-26). TOTAL PAGES: 68.
Writing Assignment: Summarize the information in the above works, and write two questions which your reading inspires (no more than three pages). No late papers, please.
Thursday, January 23: Aristophanes, “Early Plays”
Reading Assignment: MacDowell, Chapter 3 “Early Plays”, pages 27-45. TOTAL PAGES = 18
Writing Assignment: Summarize the main points of the chapter (maximum, two pages), and write two questions about the reading. No late papers, please.
PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS ABOUT COMEDY
Week 3
Tuesday, January 28: Akharnians.
Reading Assignment: Henderson,vol. 1, Akharnians, pages 48-217. NOTE: Students will read read only every other page in Henderson, as every other page is in Greek.) TOTAL PAGES: 120.
Writing Assignment: Akharnians. Hand in Reading Reaction. See syllabus:
1. Title, date, festival, prize (if known);
2. Plot summary (not more than three sentences);
3. Geographic location of the action, and at least two other locations that are important to the play;
4. Important Themes/Concerns/Issues, with line numbers for an example of each (minimum: 2, maximum: 4). Note briefly why each is important in the play, and be prepared to discuss in class.
5. Most Memorable Character/Costume/Scene. What aspect of the play do you think would have made the greatest impact on the original audience?
6. A Question. Ask a question that the play provokes.
Thursday, January 30 Akharnians
Read MacDowell. Chapter 4 Akharnians (pages 46-79, = 33 pages).
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
BIBLIOGRAPHY: SOME SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP ABOUT AKHARNIANS
Week 4
Tuesday, February 04 Horsemen/Knights/Hippeis.
Reading Assignment: Knights (Henderson, pages 220-405)
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
Thursday, February 06 Knights, continued
Reading Assignment: MacDowell. Chapter 5 Horsemen (pages 80-112).
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
SOME BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ARISTOPHANES KNIGHTS
Week 5
Tuesday, February 11 Clouds.
Reading Assignment: Clouds (Henderson, pages 10-211).
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
D. Levine on Religion in Aristophanes’ Clouds click here.
Thursday, February 13 Clouds ,continued
Read MacDowell. Chapter 5 Clouds (pages 113-149).
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
SOME BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ARISTOPHANES CLOUDS
Week 6
Tuesday, February 18 Wasps
Reading Assignment: Wasps (Henderson, pages 223-415)
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
Thursday, February 20 Wasps continued
Read MacDowell’s chapter Wasps (pages 150-179). TOTAL PAGES: 125
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
Week 7
Tuesday, February 25 Peace
Reading Assignment: Peace (Henderson, pages 429-601).
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
D. Levine’s thoughts on religion in Aristophanes’ Peace, click here.
Thursday, February 27 Peace, continued
Read MacDowell’s chapter Peace (pages 180-198).
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
Week 8
Tuesday March 03 Birds
Reading Assignment: Birds (Henderson, pages 13-251).
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
Thursday, March 05 Birds, continued
Read MacDowell’s chapter Birds (pages 199-228).
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
Week 9
Tuesday, March 10 Lysistrata
Reading Assignment: Lysistrata (Henderson, pages 267-441)
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
D. Levine’s thoughts on religion in Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, click here.
Thursday, March 12 Lysistrata, continued
Read MacDowell’s chapter Lysistrata (pages 229-250). TOTAL PAGES:
108.
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
SOME BIBLIOGRAPHY ON LYSISTRATA
Pots in Lysistrata. Idea for a paper?
Week 10
Tuesday, March 17 Thesmophoriazusae
Reading Assignment: WOMEN AT THE THESMOPHORIA:. Henderson volume 3, 455-615 (80 pages of English).
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
Thursday, March 19 Term Paper Discussion
Written Assignment: Term paper topic search results. Write your choice of subject, and your preliminary thoughts, ideas about methodology, and hypotheses. Write at least one page, to hand in. Be prepared to discuss your ideas in class.
SPRING BREAK
Week 11
TUESDAY, March 31
No reading or writing assignment.
Film: The Gods Are Laughing: Aristophanes, His Life and Theatre (1995). British Channel 4 television film featuring Aristophanes, his son (an aspiring comedian with not as much talent as Dad), Aristophanes’ mother, Socrates, Cephisophon, Cleon and more. [S
Socrates in this film is an early television role for Eddie Izzard.]
THURSDAY, April 2 Thesmophoriazusae, continued
Read MacDowell. Chapter 11 Women at the Thesmophoria (pages 251-273).
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
SOME BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THESMOPHORIAZUSAI
Week 12
Tuesday, April 7 Frogs,
Reading Assignment: Frogs in Henderson vol. 4, pages 15-235 = 110 pages of English.
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
Thursday, April 09 Frogs, continued
Read MacDowell. Chapter 12 Frogs (pages 274-300).
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
SOME BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ARISTOPHANES FROGS
Week 13
Tuesday, April 14 Women in the Assembly (Ecclesiazousai)
Reading Assignment: ECCLESIAZUSAE (Assemblywomen) in Henderson, vol. 4, pages 247-411 = 82 pages of English.
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
Thursday, April 16 Term Paper Work
No reading assignment or writing assignment. Work on Term papers. No class meeting.
Week 14
Tuesday, April 21 Ecclesiazusai, continued
Reading Assignment: MacDowell,”Women at the Assembly”, pages 301-323.
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
SOME BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ECCLESIAZUSAI
Thursday, April 23 Ploutos (Wealth)
Reading Assignment: Wealth (Henderson, volume 4, pages 425-597 = 86 pages of English.
Writing Assignment: Hand in Reading Reaction (see syllabus).
Week 15
Tuesday, April 28 Wealth, continued
Read: MacDowell. Chapter 14 Wealth (pages 324-349).
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell’s chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
SOME BIBLIOGRAPHY ON WEALTH (PLOUTOS)
Thursday, April 30
Read: MacDowell. Chapter 15 Aristophanes and Athens (pages 350-56).
No writing Assignment. Discuss Term Papers.
SOME BIBLIOGRAPHY ON MENANDER’S DYSKOLOS (NEW COMEDY)
Thursday May 07, 2020. 12:30pm (or BEFORE): Term Papers due.
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