GREEK 463 A: Hellenistic Greek Literature

Prof. Deborah Kamen (dkamen@uw.edu)

Office hours: Wednesdays 1-2pm and by appointment

Description

The well-known fabulist Aesop was a Thracian or Phrygian slave living in archaic Greece. In this course, we will read in Greek a (fictionalized) biography of Aesop--the anonymous Life of Aesop, dated to 1st century CE--as well as some Aesopic fables. This is a third-year Greek class, for which first- and second-year Greek are generally a prerequisite.

Course text

Hansen, William, ed., Anonymous Life of Aesop (Bryn Mawr Commentaries 2008).

Grading

Participation: 10% 

Fable presentation: 10% 

Response papers: 15%

Midterm: 30% 

Final exam: 35% 

The grade for this course is based on participation, three short response papers, a presentation, a midterm, and a final exam. Participation includes discussion and translation in class. The midterm will cover passages read in Greek up to that point in the quarter; the final exam will not be cumulative but will be based on the passages we have read since the midterm, plus a short passage at sight. 

Response papers will be brief (300-500 word) analyses of scholarly articles. You should, in three paragraphs, 1) clearly and concisely summarize the author’s main argument; 2) describe something specific that you think works well about the article (e.g. the examples the author cites, the methodology they use, the presentation of the argument, etc.), and explain why; and 3) describe something specific that you think does not work well, or with which you disagree, and explain why. Since this is a short paper, please avoid direct quotations from the author; I’d rather hear your own words!

Fable presentations will be 8-10 minutes long, in which you discuss one fable of Babrius. More details under 'Assignments.'

Religious Accommodations Policy

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form.

Academic Integrity

University of Washington students are expected to practice high standards of academic and professional honesty and integrity. Instances of academic dishonesty (including cheating and plagiarizing) will result in being reported for academic misconduct. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism, please read this.

Syllabus

For all class meetings, in addition to what is listed below, there will be assigned readings in the Life of Aesop. I'll adjust the pace as needed.

Week 1

Mon March 27: Introduction

Wed March 29: Read ch. 1-5 in Greek

Week 2

Mon April 3: Read ch. 6-8 in Greek

Wed April 5: Read ch. 9-10 in Greek [ch. 11, 22]

Week 3

Mon April 10: Read ch 23-25 in Greek [ch. 26] + Response paper #1 due by 11.59pm on Canvas (more details under 'Assignments')

Wed April 12: NO CLASS (Prof. Kamen has Covid!)

Week 4

Mon April 17: CLASS HELD ON ZOOM. Read ch. 27-29 in Greek [ch. 30]

Wed April 19: Read ch. 31 and 32 in Greek [ch. 33]

Week 5

Mon April 24: CLASS HELD ON ZOOM. Read ch. 44-46 in Greek [ch. 47-49]

Wed April 26: Read ch. 50-52 in Greek [ch. 53-55]

Week 6

Mon May 1: Read ch. 56-60 [ch. 61-62] + Response paper #2 due by 11.59pm on Canvas

Wed May 3: Midterm exam

Week 7

Mon May 8: Read ch. 63-66 in Greek [Babrius 5]

Wed May 10: Read ch. 67-70 in Greek [ch. 134-137]

Week 8

Mon May 15: Read ch. 71-74 in Greek [ch. 138-142]. Email me your top TWO fables to present on; I’ll assign one of them to you.

Wed May 17: [ch. 78-82]

Week 9

Mon May 22: Read ch. 83-88 in Greek [ch. 89-91]. Response paper #3 due by 11.59pm on Canvas

Wed May 24: Read ch. 92-96 in Greek

Week 10

Mon May 29: NO CLASS (Memorial Day)

Wed May 31: Fable presentations [ch. 97]

Final exam: Tues June 6, 2.30-4.20pm

UW Grade Scale