GREEK 462 A: Literature of Classical Athens

An introduction to Aristophanes focussing especially on the comic use of gender. Why are women a favorite subject for comedy? Should their humorously transgressive behavior be understood as "feminist" or misogynistic (or some combination of the two)? How does the gender of the comic hero affect our interpretation of that figure? We will read Aristophanes' Lysistrata in Greek, supplemented by readings in English, including Aristophanes' other two surviving plays about women: Thesmophoriazousai and Ekkleziazousai. Class time will be occupied primarily with translation and interpretation of Lysistrata, but the other plays will be used for comparison and general discussion. Midterm and final will each include translation, grammar questions, and an essay on a pre-assigned topic. Other written assignments will include short response papers on the English readings and a longer term paper.