UCLR 100C-002: Interpreting Literature - Classical Studies Personal Voices in Greek and Roman Literature Spring Semester 2024

Artfully composed words speak thought from one mind to another. How do they operate? What does their contact achieve? Why can it matter? This course investigates exemplary works of poetry, drama, and prose from ancient Greek and Roman worlds, so as to establish foundational competences in literary study. It satisfies the Foundational requirement of the university's Core Curriculum in Literary Knowledge, which is the prerequisite for any Tier 2 course in Literary Knowledge.

• Building literary knowledge, students will
  • engage with expressions of personal, social, and cultural identity through texts (translated into English) of archaic Greek lyric poetry, classical Athenian drama, classical Roman lyric and elegiac poetry, and later Roman Christian autobiographical prose - selected for their importance in Western literary traditions
  • learn fundamental characteristics of literary form
  • deepen understanding of concepts relating to literature and its study
  • use technical and critical vocabulary to describe literary works and formulate arguments about them
  • examine multiple interpretive possibilities of literary works and relate them to the cultures that produced them and the cultures that receive them across time
• Practicing skills of critical thinking, students will
  • read literary works closely and investigate their communicative potential
  • apply different interpretive approaches to literary texts and evaluate their findings
  • develop, test, refine, and advance arguments about the operation of literary texts
  • appreciate the complexity of relationships variously between literary texts, authors, audiences, cultures, and literary traditions

• Greek Lyric: an Anthology in Translation, tr. Andrew M. Miller (Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 1996)
• Aeschylus, Agamemnon in Robert Fagles, tr., Aeschylus: Oresteia (Penguin Classics 1966, 1967, 1975, 1977, 1984) - alternatively, Agamemnon, tr. George Theodoridis, pub. Bacchicstage and Poetry in Translation, copyright 2005
• Euripides, Hippolytus, in James Morwood, tr., Euripides: Medea and Other Plays (Oxford University Press 1997, 1998, 2009) - alternatively, Hippolytus, tr. George Theodoridis, pub. Bacchicstage and Poetry in Translation, copyright 2010
• Aristophanes, Women at the Thesmophoria Festival (Thesmophoriazousae), in David Barrett, tr., Aristophanes: Frogs and Other Plays (Penguin Classics, rev. tr. 2007) - alternatively, Thesmophoriazousae, tr. George Theodoridis, pub. Bacchicstage and Poetry in Translation, copyright 2007
• Aristophanes, Frogs, tr. David Barrett in Aristophanes: Frogs and Other Plays (Penguin Classics, rev. tr. 2007) - alternatively, Frogs, tr. George Theodoridis, pub. Bacchicstage and Poetry in Translation, copyright 2008
• The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity (for this text, the online resource serves us best), tr. W. H. Shewring (1931), adapted Paul Halsall 1996 for the Internet Medieval Sourcebook
• Augustine, Confessions, tr. R. S. Pine-Coffin, Penguin Classics 1961 - alternatively, tr. Albert C. Outler 1955 and in the public domain
• Additional resources in photocopy and on the Internet

Studying and Academic Writing Basics

• SQ3R for Primary-Source Coursework: a method for effective studying
• Guide to Writing Academic Papers: a strategic checklist devised by your instructor (hint, hint)
• Style Sheet: Mundane Good Habits of Competent Writers
• Loyola Writing Program's Statement of Grading Standards: it credits the Rhetoric Program of the University of Illinois at Urbana; other universities also observe similar criteria: these expectations are held widely
• 1st edn. (1918) of William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White, The Elements of Style: print editions have been updated and it's well worth getting a copy if you don't own one already, but in whatever edition you use it, Strunk and White is the classic guide to desirable American prose style
• How to use apostrophes, or else
• The the impotence of proofreading by Taylor Mali

• Guide to Beginning Research on Topics in Classical Studies: suggestions and resources
• Loyola Libraries' Subject Guide to Classical Studies, curated by Classical Studies Subject Specialist Annette Alvarado: a research guide to help identify and access core research resources relating to Classical Civilization, ancient Greek, or Latin.
• Oxford Bibliographies Online - Classics: annotated bibliographies compiled by leading scholars in the relevant fields
• The Perseus Digital Library, collection of texts and images for the study of the Greek and Roman worlds
• Diotima: a clearing-house of resources on the Internet for the study of women and gender in the ancient world
• Lacus Curtius, a treasurehouse of on-line resources for Roman archaeology and topography (especially); compiled by Bill Thayer
• Mapping Greek Lyric, D. Driscoll, I. McMullin, S. Sansom, S. Brennan-McMahon, A. Waller, A.-E. Peponi, Mapping Greek Lyric: Places, Travel, Geographical Imaginary, Department of Classics, Stanford University
• Didaskalia: The Journal for Ancient Performance: dedicated to the study of all aspects of ancient Greek and Roman performance (drama, dance, and music); Advisory and Editorial Boards of scholars in Classics and Theater, published by Randolph College.
• Augustine's web-page: nerve-center for teaching and research on Augustine on the Internet, including articles, bibliographies, texts, commentaries, images, records of an on-line seminar run in 1994 and 1995, and links to other off-site resources; edited by James J. O'Donnell, Provost of Georgetown University

Academic and other support-resources at Loyola University Chicago

• 2023-24 Academic Catalog: the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies and degree requirements for Loyola University Chicago, published every year in advance of the next academic year; incorporates and encompasses the Undergraduate Standards & Regulations
• Academic Advising & Support Services, Sullivan Center, Suite 260, 6339 Sheridan Rd., LSC; 773-508-7714, FSYAdvising@luc.edu
• Behavioral Concerns Team: website includes links to Wellness Center resources for faculty and staff responding to emotionally distressed students and to an on-line form for reporting student-behaviors that indicate distress, cause disruption to the community of the campus, or pose a threat to the safety, health, or well-being of any member of the campus community; or BCT Hotline, 773-508-8300; e-mail BCT@luc.edu, Amber Miller, Assistant Dean of Students, Will Rodriguez, Ph.D., Dean of Students, or Samantha Maher Sheehan, Associate Dean of Students
• Campus Safety: general, 6427 N Sheridan Road and asksafety@luc.edu; Campus Safety Dispatcher, 773-508-6039; on-campus emergency x4-4911; City of Chicago emergency 911
• Classical Studies Subject Specialist Annette Alvarado can schedule online Research Consultation Appointments with you through the link: if her name doesn't display at once, toggle to the Water Tower Campus list to select her
• CURA Network: centralized network providing support, coordination, case management, and resource referrals for student concerns across the University; the tabs at the bottom of the landing-page identify contacts and online reporting-lines relevant to different kinds of concern; self-reporting and seeking support for others are both possible; for more general information call the Dean of Students' Office, 773-508-8840, or e-mail deanofstudents@luc.edu
• Dean of Students' Office, Student Life & Engagement, Damen Student Center, South Wing, Suite 300, LSC; 773-508-8840, deanofstudents@luc.edu
• Equity-Based Discrimination and Misconduct Services (including Title IX): report through the Online Form for Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, and Retaliation or call 773-508-8840 for assistance and support; see too Critical Title IX Information
• EthicsLine: reporting link or (within the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico) 24/7 Ethics Hotline 855-603-6988
• Information Technology Services, 773-508-4ITS, helpdesk@luc.edu
• Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution, Centennial Forum Student Union 112, LSC, 773-508-8890, osccr@luc.edu
• Student Accessibility Center, Sullivan Center, Suite 117, LSC, and Lewis Towers 414C, WTC; 773-508-3700; sac@luc.edu
• Tutoring Center, Sullivan Center Room 245, LSC; 773-508-7708 and 773-508-3194; tutoringcenter@luc.edu
• University Libraries: Cudahy Library, LSC, 773-508-2632; Lewis Library, 25 E Pearson, WTC, 312-915-6622; Ask a Librarian
• Writing Center: graduate and undergraduate tutors as well as professional instructors including ESL specialists The Writing Center promotes writing as a means of reflecting and learning, and as a means for communicating and participating in the many communities of which we are a part.
  • Face-to-face, online, and for some projects written consultations are available: see the guide, Which Appointment is Right for Me?
  • All appointments may be scheduled at luc.mywconline.com/.
  • For Writing Center inquiries, e-mail Amy Kessel, Writing Center Director, at akessel@luc.edu or phone 773-508-2682

Revised 23 January 2024 by jlong1@luc.edu
http://www.luc.edu/classicalstudies/