Eric Dodson-Robinson [email protected] Ann Morgan [email protected] WAG 227 M and T 10-11:45 and appt. WAG 13 T and TR 11-12:30 and appt. 471-5742 Ashley Bishop [email protected] WAG 103 M and W 1-2 and appt. Intro to Classical Mythology CC303 (32625) Fall 2009 Through reading some of the great myths from the ancient world, we’ll explore key questions about the prehistory, history, and continuing transformation of Greek and Roman myth: what significance did myth have for the Greeks and Romans? What does the study of Indo-European myth contribute to our understanding of Roman or Greek myths? What is the role of the ‘near East’ in the ‘Western’ mythic tradition? We’ll also learn to apply different approaches to the analysis of myth. This class will emphasize cross-cultural encounters and comparative analysis, with an eye toward our own encounter with the values of the ancient world, the chronological metamorphoses of myth, and the relevance classical myth has for us today. Texts: Athanassakis, Apostolos. Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, Shield. Johns Hopkins UP, 1983. Dalley, Stephanie. Myths from Mesopotamia. Revised edition. Oxford UP, 2009. Lattimore, Richmond, trans. Iliad. U of Chicago P, 1961. Lattimore, Richmond, trans. Odyssey. Harper Collins, 1999. Optional: Seznec, Jean. Survival of the Pagan Gods. Barbara Sessions, trans. Princeton UP, 1953. In addition to the texts above, a few of the assigned readings (designated ER on the syllabus) will be on UT EReserve. To access the EReserve, go to http://reserves.lib.utexas.edu; Click “Student Access to Electronic Reserves Course pages”; find our class by instructor (Dodson-Robinson); select “CC 303”; enter the password (mythclass); select “Documents,” and select the correct title. Some of the readings will also be available on external websites, as indicated on the syllabus. If you would prefer to read in book format rather than the online versions, translations are available at the bookstores or elsewhere. Grading: Attendance: 10% 0-1 absences: full credit 2: half credit 3 or more: 0 credit Test 1: 20% October 2 Section 1: Short answer/completion Section 2: Explication Test 2: 20% November 6 As above Project: 15% November 30 Write an original 3—5 page version of a classical myth, or create your own! Final Exam: 35% Section 1: Short answer/identification Section 2: Explication Section 3: General Essay Final day and time: Monday, December 14, 9—12 noon (place tba) Disabilities: UT Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact SSD at 471-6259, or go to http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/ Note: students are expected to present a UT "accommodation letter" authorizing specific accommodations. UT Honor Code: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community. Scholastic dishonesty on any graded assignment will result in a grade of 0 for the class. Scholastic dishonesty includes any kind of cheating or collaboration on tests, or submitting work that is not either your own or accurately attributed to its source. For more information, contact Student Judicial Services at 471-2841, or go to http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis.php Religious holidays: If you need to miss a class or other required class activity for the observance of a religious holiday, you must notify me at least 14 days in advance so we can make alternative arrangementsfor your absence. Note: the University's Religious Days Policy is online: http://www.utexas.edu/provost/policies/religious_holidays/ Late work and make-up tests: Make-up tests will be given only for documented medical or other emergency. No late projects will be accepted, except in the event of such a documented emergency. Any make-up test or work must be completed within one week of the absence. Assigned readings and class outline: (ER designates a reading in the EReserves) Wed. Aug. 26 Welcome and introduction; Definition of myth; Review syllabus; Prehistory of myth Fri. Aug. 28 Proto Indo-European creation myth? (ER); Australian Aboriginal creation myth http://australianmuseum.net.au/movie/Creation-Story ; Popol Vuh 58—63 (ER) Mon. Aug. 31 “Epic of Creation.” Myths from Mesopotamia 233—277 Wed. Sept 2 Hesiod Theogony lines 1-507; Iliad 14.201 and following Fri. Sept. 4 Hesiod Theogony lines 508-1022; Kingship in Heaven http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sitchin/guerradioses/guerradioses05a.htm ; Hesiod Works and Days lines 42—201 Mon. Sept. 7 Labor Day Holiday No lecture Wed. Sept. 9 Gilgamesh. Myths from Mesopotamia pages 50—135 Fri. Sept. 11 Gilgamesh continued; Atrahasis. Myths from Mesopotamia pages 9—38 Mon. Sept. 14 Background of Trojan War (ER); “Hymn to Aphrodite” (ER) Wed. Sept. 16 “Hymn to Pythian Apollo” (ER); Iliad book 1 Fri. Sept. 18 Iliad books 3 and 6 Mon. Sept. 21 Iliad books 9 and 12 Wed. Sept. 23 Iliad books 14—16 Fri. Sept. 25 Iliad books 18 and 19Mon. Sept. 28 Iliad books 22 and 24 Wed. Sept. 30 Odyssey book 1; “Hymn to Poseidon” (ER) Fri. Oct. 2 Test 1 Mon. Oct. 5 Odyssey books 4—6 Wed. Oct. 7 Odyssey books 8—12 Fri. Oct. 9 Odyssey books 16, 18, and 19 Mon. Oct. 12 Odyssey books 21, 22, and 23; Nalopakyana (ER) Wed. Oct. 14 “Hymn to Demeter” (ER); Alkman (ER); Sappho (ER); Fri. Oct. 16 Pindar (ER); Bakchylides (ER) Mon. Oct. 19 Agamemnon (http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/aeschylus/oresteiatofc.htm) Wed. Oct. 21 Choephoroi (http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/aeschylus/oresteiatofc.htm) Fri. Oct. 23 Eumenides (http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/aeschylus/oresteiatofc.htm) Mon. Oct. 26 Antigone (ER) Wed. Oct. 28 “Herakles the Lionhearted” (ER); Apollodorus 2.4—5 (ER) Fri. Oct. 30 Trachiniae (ER) Mon. Nov. 2 Kakogiannis Ilektra (discussion of film: screening time to be announced) Wed. Nov. 4 EXAM 2 Bakchae (http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/euripides/euripides.htm) Fri. Nov. 6 Test 2 Mon. Nov. 9 Selections from Argonautica (ER); Xenophanes (ER); Plato (ER)Wed. Nov. 11 Aeneid 1; 2; 4.; 6 (www.perseus.tufts.edu) Fri. Nov. 13 Livy 1.1—1.16 (ER) Mon. Nov. 16 Aeneid