GREEK 463 A: Hellenistic Greek Literature

MW 2.30-4.20pm, CMU 228

Prof. Deborah Kamen (she/her), dkamen@uw.edu

Office hours: Mondays 1-2pm and Tuesdays 2-3pm (or by appointment) in DEN 262F. If you prefer to meet over Zoom, just let me know and I'll send you a link.

Description

In this class, we will read in Greek Menander’s Dyskolos and selections from Theophrastus’ Characters, two texts from the early Hellenistic period. Theophrastus’ text is a series of sketches of different types of people (e.g. the flatterer, the slanderer, the superstitious man, the arrogant man, etc.). Menander’s play, our only full example of Greek New Comedy, features an old, ill-tempered (dyskolos) man who would easily be at home amongst Theophrastus’ characters. Knowledge of ancient Greek is a prerequisite.

Course Texts

NB: Undergraduates can apply for funds Links to an external site. to defray the costs of required textbooks.

Required:

• Konstan, David. Menander Dyskolos. Bryn Mawr Commentaries 1983. [available to buy at the UW bookstore and online]
• Bobrick, Elizabeth. Theophrastus’ Characters. Bryn Mawr Commentaries 1991. [download the free pdf Links to an external site.]

Optional:

• Handley, E. W. The Dyskolos of Menander. Methuen & Co. Ltd. 1965. [available to consult in the Classics seminar room: PA 4245 D9 1965]
• Diggle, James. Theophrastus Characters. Cambridge 2022. [available to buy at the UW bookstore and online]

Grading

Participation: 10%

Article presentation: 10%

Exam 1 (April 27): 30%

Exam 2 (June 9): 30%

Creative project (June 5): 20%

Participation includes discussion and translation in class. Exam 1 will entail translation of two passages (plus grammatical questions), drawn from the Greek we have read up to that point in the quarter; Exam 2 will have the same format, covering the material from the second half of the quarter. More details about the article presentation and creative assignment can be found under Assignments.

ACCESS Student Policy

I follow the ACCESS Student Policy as described on the UW Registrar website: “ACCESS students attend classes on an audit basis as a non-matriculated student. As an auditor, you may not participate in class discussions, take tests, or submit papers.”

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.  In this class, academic misconduct includes the use of ChatGPT, Large Language Models (LLMs), or any other AI tools to generate ideas or to rephrase or paraphrase yours or others’ work.

Schedule of readings

NOTE: Reading assignments are provisional; I reserve the right to change them as the course progresses.

Week 1

Mon Mar 30: Introduction

Wed April 1: Read Dyskolos lines 1-49

Week 2

Mon April 6: Read Dyskolos lines 50-123

Wed April 8:

• Read Dyskolos lines 124-199
• Email Prof. Kamen your top 2 choices for your article presentation (for more details, see Assignments -> Article presentation)
• Select a presentation date on this sign-up sheet

Week 3

Mon April 13: Read Dyskolos lines 200-287

Wed April 15: Read Dyskolos lines 288-364

Week 4

Mon April 20: Read Dyskolos lines 365-441

Wed April 22: Read Dyskolos lines 442-521

Week 5

Mon April 27: EXAM 1

Wed April 29: Read Dyskolos lines 522-599

Week 6

Mon May 4: Read Dyskolos lines 600-672

Wed May 6: Read Dyskolos lines 673-748

Week 7

Mon May 11: Read Dyskolos lines 748-817

Wed May 13: Read Dyskolos lines 818-893

Week 8

Mon May 18: Read Dyskolos lines 894-969

Wed May 20: NO CLASS (Prof. Kamen out of town). Read through Theophrastus’ Characters in English; email Prof. Kamen a list of your favorite 3 “characters” (NB: ‘favorite’ doesn’t necessarily mean you like the character being described, just that you find the portrait interesting in some way!).

Week 9

Mon May 25: NO CLASS (Memorial Day)

Wed May 27: Read Characters TBD

Week 10

Mon June 1: Read Characters TBD

Wed June 3: Read Characters TBD

Fri June 5 (11.59pm): Submit creative project on Canvas (for more details, see Assignments -> Creative project)

Tues June 9, 2.30-4.20pm: EXAM 2