- Summer 2019
Syllabus Description:
First year Ancient Greek courses give you direct access to the thoughts and writings of the ancient Greeks and allow you to explore the dynamic and often dangerous cultural, social and political world in which they wrote. Learning to interpret and use an ancient language requires you to explore unknown areas and think in new ways. Our focus is on Greek as a literary language. Course activities are designed to foster a collegial and collaborative atmosphere and to encourage you to make strong connections between the ancient language and literature we are exploring together and your other interests, passions and pursuits.
This course counts for VLPA if you are not using it to satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement. If you are hoping to use Ancient Greek to satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement, please email clasdept@uw.edu to let us know.
Course Goals:
Through your work in the course you will demonstrate that you can:
- Read and translate selections from ancient Greek authors and compose simple sentences in Greek.
- Understand and explain the literary, historical and cultural context of texts by ancient Greek authors
- Analyze and explain Greek grammar and syntax
- Analyze and describe the influence of the Greek language on subsequent languages and literatures
By completing the first year sequence through Greek 301 you equip yourself to read any Greek author. In our second year courses (305, 306, 307) students read selections of Xenophon (305), Plato (306), and Homer (307).
Required texts
Anne Groton: From Alpha to Omega (abbreviated as ΑΩ in what follows)
Only the fourth edition should be used. This book explains Greek grammar and syntax and contains many short readings from ancient Greek authors.
How to read this schedule:
The ΑΩ Lessons and the homework assignments should be read and completed before the listed date. For example: on 6/25, come to class having already read Lessons 2 and 3 as well as having completed the homework assignment for Lesson 1.
Week 1 |
GtE = ‘Greek to English’; EtG = ‘English to Greek’ |
Monday 6/24 |
Introduction: Ancient Greek and Indo European Parts of Speech ΑΩ Lesson 1: The Greek Alphabet |
Tuesday 6/25 |
Homework: Lesson 1: Exercises A (copy the names as written and transliterate the names into the Latin alphabet) + B ΑΩ Lesson 2: The Greek Accents (Don’t panic!) ΑΩ Lesson 3: Ω-Verbs |
Wednesday 6/26 |
Homework: Lesson 2 Exercise A (1-10) and Lesson 3: GtE 1–6 Review homework; more accent practice (continue to not panic..) ΑΩ Lessons 4 + 5: First Declension Nouns, parts 1 and 2 |
Thursday 6/27 |
Homework: · Lesson 4: GtE (1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10) · Lesson 5: GtE (1, 3–6) EtG (3) ΑΩ Lesson 6: Ω-Verbs: Future active indicative and infinitive |
Friday 6/28 |
Quiz 1 (Lessons 1–5) Homework: Lesson 6: GtE (1, 5, 10) and EtG (4); Old Habits Never Die ΑΩ Lessons 7 + 8: Second Declension Nouns and Adjectives |
Week 2 |
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Monday 7/1 |
Homework: · Lesson 7: GtE (2-5, 10) · Lesson 8: GtE (1, 2, 6, 8-10) and EtG (1) ΑΩ Lesson 9: First Declension Masculine Nouns; Substantives |
Tuesday 7/2 |
Homework: Lesson 9 GtE (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10) and EtG (4) ΑΩ Lessons 10 + 11: Ω-Verbs: Imperfect, Correlatives, Middle/Passive |
Wednesday 7/3 |
Homework: · Lesson 10: GtE (1, 5, 8, 10) and EtG (1) · Lesson 11: GtE (1, 4, 5, 7, 8,10) ΑΩ Lessons 12+13: εἰμί, Enclitics; Demonstratives |
Thursday 7/4 |
No class: Happy 4th of July! · |
Friday 7/5 |
Quiz #2 (Lessons 6–11) Homework: · Lesson 12: GtE (1–4, 9 10) and EtG (1) · Lesson 13: GtE (4–6, 8) and EtG (3) ΑΩ Lesson 14: Personal Pronouns |
Week 3 |
GtE = ‘Greek to English’; EtG = ‘English to Greek’ |
Monday 7/8 |
Homework: Lesson 14 GtE (1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10) and EtG (4) ΑΩ Lessons 15 + 16: Contract verbs, Contract future, 3rd Declension nouns |
Tuesday 7/9 |
Homework: · Lesson 15: GtE(3, 4) and EtG(2); read and translate Mighty Mouse · Lesson 16: GtE (1, 4, 7) ΑΩ Lesson 17: 3rd Declension Adjectives |
Wednesday 7/10 |
Homework: Lesson 17 GtE (1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10) and EtG (1, 4) ΑΩ Lesson 18: Ω-Verbs: First Aorist Active and Middle Time permitting, we will read Outfoxed from Lesson 17 as a class |
Thursday 7/11 |
Homework: Lesson 18 GtE (2, 4, 7, 8, 10) and EtG (3) ΑΩ Lesson 19: Ω-Verbs: Second Aorist; Reflexive Pronouns Time permitting, we will read Hermes' Bargain from Lesson 18 as a class |
Friday 7/12 |
Quiz #3 (Lessons 12–18) Homework: Lesson 19 GtE (2–4, 6, 10) and EtG (5) ΑΩ Lesson 20: Ω-Verbs: Perfect, Pluperfect Active Optional: Glance at All Caw, No Caution from Lesson 20 |
Week 4 |
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Monday 7/15 |
Homework: From 46 Stories in Classical Greek (copy to be provided in person and PDF posted to canvas), Musing with the Cicadas, focus on lines 9–21 ΑΩ Lesson 21: Interrogative τίς and Indefinite τις |
Tuesday 7/16 |
Homework: Reading from 46 Stories in Classical Greek: Divining Socrates' Future ΑΩ Lesson 22: Ω-Verbs: Perfect, Pluperfect, Pluperfect Middle/Passive |
Wednesday 7/17 |
Homework: Lesson 22 GtE (1–5, 9) and EtG (1) ΑΩ Lesson 23: Relative Pronouns, πᾶς, Expressions of Time Time permitting, we will read Bat,Bush, Bird from Lesson 23 as a class |
Thursday 7/18 |
Homework: Lesson 23 GtE (3–5, 9, 10) and EtG (4) ΑΩ Lesson 24: Ω-Verbs: Active Participles |
Friday 7/19 |
Quiz #4 (Lessons 19–23) Homework: Quiz #4 (Lessons 19–23) Homework: Lesson 24 GtE (1, 5, 6, 8, 10) and EtG (4); ΑΩ Lesson 25: Ω-Verbs: Middle/Passive Participles |
Week 5 |
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Monday 7/22 |
Homework: GtE (1–3, 5, 6, 8) ΑΩ Lesson 26: Direct and Indirect Questions, Alternative Questions We will begin reading Sage Advice for Alexander from 46 Stories in Classical Greek |
Tuesday 7/23 |
We will finish reading Sage Advice for Alexander from 46 Stories in Classical Greek Review for the Final Exam |
Wednesday 7/24 |
Final Exam (Cumulative Final) End of A-Term |