Classics in Our World:
English Words from Ancient Greece
Our classical past has enriched Western Culture, and many languages. Many of us are unaware of the classical background of English words we use today. Part of our exploration of ancient Greece this semester will be to expand our understanding of our own language via the etymologies of its vocabulary.
To this end, students in CLST 1003 will delight one another with explanations of CLASSICS IN OUR WORLD. Most of these words are to be found in a good English dictionary, and on the Internet in the “Words and Phrases Glossary” of Oxford’s “Classical Mythology” website: (http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195397703/student/glossaries/main/?view=usa). If you don’t find what you want online, you should consult a big English dictionary, and/or go to Mullins Library. There are several works in Mullins Library that can give you the lowdown on all the mythology you need. There are a bunch in Reference, and a bunch on the shelves. If you want resources in Mullins Library, you can see them here: (http://uark.libguides.com/c.php?g=78694&p=505274 click on “Mythology, Religion, and Philosophy”). A good online reference source for Greek myths, with illustrations, is theoi.com: (http://www.theoi.com/).
Students will work in groups of two, and will receive their assignments in the first week of class.
Student presentations will involve:
1) Immediately before class begins, setting up electronic presentations (like power point), including a title slide with the names of the presenters, the word or phrase in the Roman alphabet, and in the Greek alphabet (both in upper case and lower case Greek letters). Be sure to check with the professor at least two days beforehand to make sure that the Greek is correct.
2) BRIEFLY (in 2-3 minutes) explaining the classical figure, concept, myth, god, or idea associated with the words.
3) BRIEFLY explaining the modern meaning of the ancient concept and showing how the two relate.
4) IMPORTANT: Please inform your professor at least two days before your presentation what you have found. You may do this by email or in person.
Note: In addition, each presentation must include at least one image, with an explanation of what it is and why it is relevant..
Please check the list and note the days on which you will make your presentations. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO PREPARE YOUR PRESENTATION.
The professor encourages students to refer to our course texts and other original sources whenever possible when giving reports, so check out the indices of your texts when preparing your presentation.
For example, if you get the word AMAZON, you will find a cool story about them in your Herodotus text, in book 4. Ditto on “rich as Croesus” (book 1). If you get “Electra Complex”, you will do well to refer to Aeschylus’ play LIBATION BEARERS, which is in our ORESTEIA text. If you get CloudCucooLand, be sure to refer to Aristophanes’ Birds. Show us how well-read you are!
GRADING: Grades will be based on:
1. Accuracy of Information (Be sure to tell the truth);
2. Clarity and Concision of Presentation (Make sure that your report is succinct and understandable),
3. Connection with the class (Be sure that your voice is loud enough, that you make eye contact, and show that you care about your subject),
4. Proper Greek spelling and letter forms (This is one reason that I want you to check with me before your presentation — so I don’t have to correct your work in class).
5. (and most importantly) Contacting the Professor AT LEAST two days before class to let him know what you have found, so he can check your work before your presentation. Failure to do this will have a negative effect on the grade.
The Professor will make assignments during the first week of class. When you get your assignments, LOOK THEM UP RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. Many of you will have questions that I can answer, but not if you contact me just before your report is due.
Illustration: Columbia University Library, with names of
Homer, Herodotus, Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Demosthenes, Cicero and Vergil on the Ionic Frieze. These are Classics in Our World.
Students will consult the following list and note the days on which they will give presentations.
Wednesday January 20
Europa (astronomy), Europe : Ava Buchanan, Jacob Condran
Nike : Lathan Gregg, Sloan Hall
Monday January 25
titan, titanic : David Moneymaker, Andrew Ruegsegger
Protean: Robin Stover, Alice Stubbs
Wednesday, January 27:
ambrosia, ambrosial: Matthew Tribble, Jordan Vitiello
stygian: Leslie Williams, Mariano Anchondo
Monday, February 01:
cassandra : Ashton Beckley, Will Beutelschies
apple of discord : Macie Bokelman, Blyth Booker
Wednesday, February 03
nestor : Andrews Brister, Brooks Browning
mentor : Patrick Davis, Carissa Demma
Monday February 08
tantalize : Jacob Edwards, Ryan Farr
chimera : Emily Forcum, Jackson Gainey
Wednesday, February 10
chaos : Cody Garner, Gretchen Gleason
demon : Jayden Goff, Malorie Hall
Monday February 15:
The Socratic Method : Katelyn Hill, Christian Hood
Stentorian : Ashton Isaacson, Brandon Johnson
Wednesday, February 17:
Only Honors Students Meet. No CIOW assignment.
Monday, February 22
No Class. “Spring Break” Day 1
Wednesday, February 24
In-Class Examination. No CIOW assignment.
Monday, March 01
Ganymede (Astronomy) : Marcus Johnston, Gweneth Kuhns
Gorgon, Gorgonian, Gorgonize : Tony Larson, Rey Lenihan
Wednesday March 03:
Hector (as a verb, as a noun) : Abigail Lindsey, David Lovejoy
Panic: Kyra McCracken, Madi McKinniss
Monday, March 08:
Academy: Ana Mills, Austin Oxner
Electra Complex: Alexie Pope, Jared Socha
Wednesday, March 10
Solon : Ashley Taroni, Bree Tarver
Nemesis: Rese Teeter, Ryann Tooker
Monday, March 15
Laconic: Colin Toulouse, Elise Tremonti
Lethargy: Michael Verbeck, Cooper Wayda
Wednesday March 17
Athenaeum: Sydney White, Griffin Wright
Midas: Amos Yarbrough, Ava Buchanan
Monday, March 22.
Symposium: Jordan Vitiello, Leslie Williams
Pyrrhic Victory : Sloan Hall
Wednesday March 24
Psephology: Andrew Ruegsegger, Robin Stover
Draconian: Alison Stubbs, Matthew Tribble
Monday March 29
Mausoleum : Jacob Condran, Lathan Gregg
Narcissus, Narcissism, Narcissist :Mariano Anchondo, Ashton Beckley
Wednesday March 31
nympholepsy; nympholept Will Beutelschies, Macie Bokelman
The (unofficial) motto of the USPS (Hint: Herodotus Histories 8.98): Blyth Booker, Andrews Brister
Monday April 05
Cadmean Victory: Brooks Browning, Patrick Davis
Aegis: Brandon Johnson, Gweneth Kuhns
Wednesday April 07
Only Honors Students Meet. No CIOW Assignment.
Wednesday April 12
In Class Writing Assignment. No CIOW Assignment.
Wednesday April 14
Harpy : Kyra McCracken
Amazon :Jordan Vitiello, Ava Buchanan
Monday April 19
Procrustean : Carissa Demma, Jacob Edwards
Palladium: Ryan Farr, Emily Forcum
Wednesday April 21
Hecatomb: Cody Garner
Aphrodisiac / Anaphrodisiac: Gretchen Gleason, Jayden Goff
Monday April 26
Io (astronomy) : Katelyn Hill
Sybaritic: Ryan Farr
Wednesday, April 28
Sisyphean: Christian Hood, Ashton Isaacson
Hermetic: Andrew Ruegsegger
The kindly centaur Chiron holds baby Achilles, his student. Chiron’s job was to teach Achilles the art of medicine, and how to be a good man. This centaur has human legs instead of horse legs, to show that he is more civilized than other centaurs. In the Iliad, Achilles had the spear that Chiron had given to Peleus, Achilles’ father. (Iliad 4.219; 11.832; 16.143; 19.390)
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