LIT103: Introduction to Ancient Greek Literature
Key details
| Accredited towards | Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts Diploma of Liberal Arts |
| Unit type | Core unit |
| Credit points | 6 |
| Indicative contact hours | 3 hours per week |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Offered in | Semester 1 |
| Tuition fee | Learn more |
Overview
This unit introduces students to the study of the western canon by focusing on seminal works of ancient Greek literature, with a focus on Homer’s epics, fifth-century Greek tragedy and the literary criticism of Plato and Aristotle. Topics and concepts include: the characteristics of epic; epic and tragic heroism; poetic inspiration and the invocation of the muses; the role of the gods; the meaning of fate and home; the nature, meaning and characteristics of tragedy, and the purpose of poetry. Works studied may include The Iliad and Odyssey, Aeschylus’s Agamemnon, Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Euripides’ Medea, selections from Plato’s Republic and Ion, and Aristotle’s Poetics.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit of study, students will be able to:
- Evaluate foundational themes in Homer’s epics and Greek drama
- Understand the seminal contributions of Homer and Greek dramatists to the development of the Western literary tradition and Western culture
- Analyse key stylistic features of epic and dramatic forms of ancient Greek literature
- Apply Plato’s and Aristotle’s literary theory to explore and analyse epic and dramatic works
- Produce clear, logical written and oral answers to questions arising from the works studied
- Work independently and collaboratively in tutorials
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