CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY THROUGH ANCIENT LITERATURE ALPHA, 2009 COURSE SYLLABUS The Lukeion Project, Amy E. Barr, instructor: [email protected]

Thursdays, 11:30 am ET

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the folktales, sagas, etiologies and campfire stories that form the backbone of all great literature in Western civilization. These tales have inspired art and literature for well over 3000 years. We will explore how these myths instructed and entertained the ancient Greeks. We will explore how these stories are rooted in both religion and history. Both in and out of class, students will read and hear a wide selection of stories.

This course is visual. I will introduce you to mythology-inspired artists who have adapted the stories to *visual allegory through the centuries. The practical value of this course is that learners will come to understand how Classical mythology infuses all great literature, art and architecture today.

*The Greeks portrayed male heroes in the nude. We will be discussing heroes and showing them in Greek art. I will never show anything intentionally obscene, but I will not be using “fig leaves” either.

COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS This course is college preparatory. The most important aspect of a college preparatory course is that you must manage your assignments and complete them on time as assigned with little or no pestering on the part of your instructor.

You must also develop:

• Note taking skills • Any material that you read or hear in class will be covered on quizzes. If you are not yet adept at note taking, there is no time like the present. • Please download the handout called “Taking Notes in Class” • A regular schedule • Plan a time to read, study, submit work and take quizzes. Develop a project plan for writing your research paper. • Personal responsibility for the quality and intensity of your study • Find time to complete online review games every week • Do extra research if you feel you need better understanding of a topic. • Email me if you are having trouble – I might have a mnemonic aid or a study strategy • Honest performance: complete your assignments with integrity • Dishonesty will result in immediate removal from the course.

To succeed in this course, students in Mythology Alpha must: • Attend class every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET every week except Thanksgiving • Take, re-copy and organize class notes • Complete assigned readings • Be prepared to respond in class • Prepare for quizzes and exams carefully and conscientiously

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• Communicate with the instructor when there are question or problems • Complete: o Online quizzes . expect essay responses & multiple choice type questions o Final comprehensive exam (expect essay responses & multiple choice type questions) • Assigned essays and research paper on Troy o The specifications for these assignments will be posted to your class page. o This paper is not typically graded until after the semester has ended. I will return your evaluation and grade on this paper at the same time I return your course grade in January.

CLASS WEB PAGE: http://www.quia.com/pages/abarr/mythalpha

Your class web page is the key to staying organized this semester. Expect to find assignment updates and class handouts. Go there to start your quizzes and exams. Look for useful and interesting web links and games to help you review the material in preparation for quizzes. It is entirely your responsibility to check the website for assignments and handouts.

QUIZZES AND EXAMS For specific direction on using Quia to access quizzes, etc., please download and read the handout called “The Care and Feeding of Quia.”

I will send out an email announcement once I have finished grading each quiz. At that time you may view the graded results of your quizzes in the Quia student zone: http://www.quia.com .

All exams are "closed book." Employ the honor system. By attending this course, parents and students agree to a strict policy of honesty in test-taking. Students with special needs should communicate them to the instructor at the start of the course.

GRADES: I will evaluate your work fairly and take into account work by your fellow classmates. I will give you constructive feedback on essays and your research paper in writing since objective feedback is essential to developing your skills in this area.

Your course grade will be accompanied by an evaluation of your work and writing this semester. It will include an average of your quiz scores, together with your writing scores. Your final grade may be influenced by your timeliness, attendance and participation in class. Quia does not retain an accurate indication of your grade since it cannot take into account writing and participation as I will in my gradebook.

Quizzes on Quia are partly computer graded. All essays or short response questions are personally graded by your instructor. Expect at least a week before I return grades to the class. I will announce by email that the grading is finished and publish the range of grades so that students know how their work compares to classmates’ work. To ensure an objective evaluation, I hide student names when I grade on Quia.

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ABSENCES AND RECORDINGS: If you have a scheduled absence, please let me know in advance. Our classes are usually recorded. These recordings are available as a courtesy. If you miss a class, you may request a recording in writing by email AFTER the class has ended (I am not able to request a key from Webex until after the class has ended—if you make the request before, chances are the request will be lost in my 100+ emails a day!).

I make no guarantee whatsoever about the quality or availability of the recording since our primary tool is the live classroom. In the unlikely event that the recording is unusable, you are still responsible for the material presented in class: find a classmate who will share notes with.

INSTRUCTOR ABSENCE: In the event of an emergency, I will make a reasonable attempt at making up the missed class by making a recording of the session available to the students at the first possible opportunity. I ask for grace in advance should a family emergency arise.

TO CONTACT ME I am always available by email at [email protected] or, in terrible emergency only, by phone at 919- 342-6840 (if I am at my desk, I will respond quickly by email but a call may interrupt one of my classes). If you are attending class from an exotic location, send food, souvenirs, t-shirts and postcards to: 448 Texanna Way, Holly Springs, NC 27540.

Office Hours: remember that this course is ON a computer, not BY a computer. If you email me during these hours, you will probably hear back quite quickly. Anticipate a longer delay during my off hours. I am dependably at my desk Monday 9-5, Tuesday 8-6, Wednesday 8-6, Thursday 8-3, and Friday 9-3.

TEXTS AND RESOURCES: • Anthology of Classical Myth: Primary Sources in , Trzaskoma, Smith and Brunet, trans., 2004. (“TSB” below) • , , translation by Stanley Lombardo, 1997 • Homer, , translation by Stanley Lombardo, 2000 • Hecuba, trans. by Robin Mitchell-Boyask (translation isn’t critical here—you may choose any modern translation). • Optional but recommended: Ovid, Metamorphoses, Charles Martin, trans. (Norton, 2004)—we will use this as a required text in Mythology Beta.

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COURSE SCHEDULE: Classes meet once a week for one hour. Any changes or updates will be announced at the very beginning of class (so arrive late at your peril) and/or published on the class web page. I will not ‘badger’ you to complete your assignments on time.

Week / Topic Reading Assignment Due Date/Time (5 pm ET on date listed) Date

0 8/20 Orientation meeting at either 10 am ET or 7 PM ET

Mythology Introduction and TSB pp. 129-146; p. 17 (A1); p 433-434; pp. 363-367, 1 8/27 Greek Creation Ovid’s Metamorphoses bk 1.1-88

TSB pp. 146-160; p. 18 (A2); 2 9/3 The Clash of the Titans Ovid’s Metamorphoses bk 1.151-198;

People, Problems and the TSB pp. 160-167; 21-23 (D1-E3); 3 9/10 Quiz #1 over weeks 1-3 due by 9/14 Flood Ovid’s Metamorphoses bk 1.89-150

Hestia, Zeus, Hera, TSB p. 346D; research: www.theoi.com 4 9/17 Olympic Resume #1 due by 9/21 Hephaestus, Ares,

Athena, Aphrodite, Dionysus, TSB p. 168 ff. Homeric Hymn #4, 5a, 7; 5 9/24 Olympic Resumes #2 due by 9/28 Cybele, Hermes research: www.theoi.com

Hades, Demeter & TSB p. 168 ff. Homeric Hymn #2, 3; Olympic Resumes #3 and Quiz #2 6 10/1 Persephone, Artemis, Apollo research: www.theoi.com (over weeks 4-6) due by 10/5

TSB pp. 242-245 (#89-98); 285 (#7); 7 10/8 Troy background myths Quiz #3 on week 7 due by 10/12 pp.395-398

Choose your Troy paper topic and send 8 10/15 Iliad by Homer Read books 1-8, Iliad it to me no later than 10/19

9 10/22 Iliad by Homer Read books 9-16, Iliad

Quiz #4 (on Iliad) due by 11/2 10 10/29 Iliad by Homer Read books 17-24, Iliad

Read Hecuba online or use text 11 11/5 Hecuba by Euripides Quiz #5 on Hecuba due by 11/9 View portion of Trojan Women on YouTube

12 11/12 Odyssey by Homer Read books 1-8 Odyssey

13 11/19 Odyssey by Homer Read books 9-16 Odyssey Troy Paper due by 11/23

14 11/26 Thanksgiving Break: No Classes, No office hours

Final exam opens at 8 am ET on 15 12/3 Odyssey by Homer Read books 17-24 Odyssey Friday 12/4

Final Exam closes at 5 pm ET 12/8 16 12/8 Final Exam: comprehensive (50% on Odyssey) DROP DEAD DEADLINE

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