UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
SPRING, 2010 GREEK 2013: HOMER ILIAD
Professor Daniel B. Levine
Illusration: Harpist. Cyclades, island mable, about 2500
BCE. Ht. 35.8 cm. Width: 9.5 cm.
J. Paul Getty Museum
Welcome to Homeric Greek! This term we will
read some selections from Homer’s Iliad in Greek, read the entire
poem in English, and engage in some projects to help us learn better about
the earliest literature in Europe.
We will read the poetry aloud, practicing the
dactylic hexameter; we shall translate literally and artistically; we shall
examine the mythology of the epic; we shall create a non-literary project
that arises from our studies.
Our texts:
Selections from Homer’s Iliad, ed. A. R. Benner
Homer Iliad, tr. Stanley Lombardo
Please buy these editions of the texts, so we can always be ‘on the same
page’ with one another.
Grades
Course grades will be based on hour examinations (25%), class presentations/written
assignments (25%), final projects (15%), ‘secret word’ presentations (10%),
and class preparation/participation (25%).
Hour Examinations.
The hour examinations will consist of passages of the text to translate
into English, as well as a few lines of the epic to scan metrically. In
addition, there will be questions about grammar. One of the strengths of
Benner’s text is that it has a complete Homeric Grammar in the back, as
well as copious notes that refer to specific places in that Grammar. We
are well accommodated.
Secret Words.
Each student will be responsible for giving the etymology of a word at
the beginning of each class, as in Greek 1013. Words
Presented so far will be given on this site.
In the second half of the course, students will choose a short passage
from any book of the Iliad, and make two translations of the
passage. The first translation will be literal, taking into account every
point of grammar and syntax. The second translation will be ‘artistic’ or
‘literary’ and need not slavishly relate to the text. This is an opportunity
to be creative, and get the ‘spirit’ of the passage across to the modern
reader. For details and a sample, click
here.
Mnemosyne, Muse, Invocation
All students in this course will memorize the first seven lines of the
Iliad: the invocation to the Muse. We will practice this together
in class daily until every student can recite it. This will help students
with the Book One Recitations.
Book One Memorized Recitations
Students in the second half of the course will choose a few lines from
Book 1 to memorize, and recite these lines to the class, without telling
the class the context. The class will then have to recognize the words and
context just by listening to the student reciting, just like an ancient
audience.
Non-Literary Project
In addition to the textual work we will do, students will produce non-literary
projects based on something in the Iliad. This project may be a sculpture,
painting, photography project, collage, video, musical and/or theatrical
composition/performance, dance, computer software, web page, or other creative/artistic
endeavor. All Final Projects must be approved by the professor by the tenth
week of classes.
Presentations: Mythology and the Iliad
Students will make presentations to the class about a character who appears
in the Iliad. The presentations will include a summary of
this character’s genealogy, major actions (both in the Iliad
and elsewhere in Greek myth), relationship with the gods, and representations
in later Greek and European art, drama, and music. Click
here for some tips and the schedule.
Students will make up handouts for the class (no longer than 2 pages),
and distribute them the day of their presentations. Each presentation will
take no longer than 15 minutes.
Presentations may be on the following:
(Greeks)
Achilles, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Telamonian Ajax, Oilean Ajax, Calchas,
Diomedes, Helen, Idomeneus, Nestor, Phoenix, Thersites. [Gods: Thetis, Hera,
Athena]
(Trojans)
Aeneas, Andromache, Antenor, Briseis, Dolon, Glaucus, Hector, Paris,
Sarpedon, Hecuba, Priam, Helenus. [Gods: Aphrodite, Apollo]
Click
Here for a Schedule of the Mythology Presentations
Bad Weather Policy.
Your instructor will be here when the University is open. If a student
is prevented by weather from reaching class, the absence will be excused,
and the work will be made up without penalty.
Daniel B. Levine, Professor, Classical Studies
Office: Kimpel Hall 502, Office Phone: 575-5937; Home Phone: 521-3294
FAX: 575-6795, EMAIL: dlevine@uark.edu
Office hours: MWF 11:30-12:20 and by appointment.
Tentative Schedule of Classes: Greek
2013. University of Arkansas Spring, 2010.
[There will be Greek lines from Book One assigned for most classes when
Presentations are not scheduled.]
Week 1
January 11 Introduction. Welcome and Review.
January 13 Book I, lines 1-7
January 15 lines 8-21 (English: Books 1-3)
Week 2
January 18 M. L. King Holiday (no class)
January 20 lines 22-36
January 22 (English: Books 4-6)
Week 3
January 25 lines 37-52
January 27 lines 53-67
January 29 (English: Books 7-9) Mythology
Presentations DiomedesMAGGIE; Phoenix SAMANTHA R.
Week 4
February 01 lines 68-100
February 03 lines 101-120
February 05 (English: Books 10-12) Mythology
Presentations Thetis ANDREW; Apollo SETH.
Week 5
February 08 lines 121-147
February 10 lines 148-171
February 12 (English: Books 13-15) Mythology
Presentations Helenus RYAN; Telamonian Ajax KATIE.
Week 6
February 15 HOUR EXAMINATION #1
February 17 lines 172-192
February 19 lines 193-222
Week 7
February 22 lines 223-244
February 24 lines 245-261
February 26 lines 262-291
Week 8
March 01 (English: Books 16-18) Mythology
Presentations Aeneas SAMANTHA S.; Hector THOM.
March 03 lines 292-317
March 05 (English: Books 19-21). Oral reading practice. Mythology
Presentation Hecuba JAMES.
Week 9
March 08 lines 318-348
March 10 lines 349-363
March 12 (English: Books 22-24). Oral reading practice.
Week 10
March 15 lines 364-392
March 17 lines 393-412
March 19 lines 413-430. Tell Professor your choice of Non-Literary Project
March 22, 24, 26 SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES
Week 11
March 29. Review. Practice memorized passage.
March 31 Book One Memorized Passage Recitations.
April 02 HOUR EXAMINATION #2
Week 12
April 05 lines 431-456.
April 07 13. lines 457-479.
April 09 Review. (No Class. Eta Sigma Phi Convention)
Week 13
April 12 lines 480-510
April 14 lines 511-539
April 16 Written Translation Presentations
(work on non-literary project)
Week 14
April 19 Written Translation Presentations
(work on non-literary project)
April 21 Written Translation Presentations
(work on non-literary project)
April 23 Written Translation Presentations
(work on non-literary project)
Week 15
April 26 REVIEW
April 28 HOUR EXAMINATION #3.
April 30 Dead Day
May 01 (SATURDAY, 12:30-2:30 pm): Presentation of Non-Literary Projects
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