ENGL 207 - Classical Mythology

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
This course is an introduction to the mythology of classical antiquity with emphasis on recognized masterpieces of literature by authors such as, Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

Prerequisite ENGL 101 or permission of instructor.

Head, James G., and Linda Maclean. Myth and Meaning. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1976. Print.

Homer. The Illiad of Homer. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 1990.

—. The Odyssey of Homer. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 1996.

Sophocles, Robert Fagles, and Bernard Knox. The Three Theban Plays; Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1984. Print

Objectives
The student will be able to:

A. Define the term “myth,” distinguishing it from related terms, such as archetype, legend, fable, fairy tale, and folk tale.

B. Identify the mythic elements in the works of literature discussed in class.

C. Discuss the significance to both ancient and modern audiences of the works of literature under discussion and the myths  embodied in these works.

D. Discuss the unique interpretation each author brings to the myths he presents.

E. Identify some of the social, psychological, religious, etc. needs which myths attempt to fulfill.

F. Report on the usefulness of various secondary sources and/or editions of works of literature which may be helpful in researching the mythic backgrounds of the works discussed in class.

Content
The course will cover selected major translated works of the following authors. Other texts may be added as well.

A. Homer (ca. 900-800 B.C.)

B. Aeschylus (525-455 B.C.)

C. Sophocles (ca. 497-405 B.C.)

D. Euripides (480-406 B.C.)

Student Evaluation
A. Two critical papers

B. Tests

C. Participation in class discussions

D. Oral and written reports

Bibliography
Apollodorus. The Library of Greek Mythology. (Aldrich, Keith, ed). Lawrence, KS: Coronado Press, 1975.

Bell, Robert E. Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Symbols, Attributes, and Associations. Oxford, England: ABC-Clino, 1982.

Bloom, Harold, ed. Homer’s The Iliad. New York: Chelsea House, 1987.

Bolen, Jean Shinoda. Goddesses in Everywoman. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1984.

Bulfinch, Thomas. Bulfinch’s Mythology. New York: T.Y. Crowell Company, 1947.

Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton, University Press, 1949.

Dawrick, Stephanie. Land of Zeus. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1976.

Edwards, Mark W. Homer: Poet of Iliad. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins U P, 1987.

Green, David, and Richard Lattimore. The Complete Greek Tragedies. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1956.

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1942.

Harrison, Jane Ellen. Mythology. New York: Cooper Square Publishers, 1963.

Jacobs, Melville. The Anthropologist Looks at Myth. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1966.

Kirk, Geoffrey Stephen. Myth: Its Meaning and Function in Ancient and Other Cultures. Cambridge, England: University Press, 1970.

Kitto, H. D. F. Greek Tragedy. London: Methuen/Harper, 1966.