Greek: Prospective students
Why Study Greek?
The civilisation of ancient Greece has been profoundly influential in shaping that of modern Europe. We owe to the Greeks many concepts central to modern thinking, in (e.g.) politics, philosophy and literary criticism. Many of the literary forms which have flourished in Europe since the Renaissance have their origins in Greece. For instance, it was the Greeks who created the fundamental forms of both tragedy and comedy, and in the process institutionalised drama and the theatre as cultural phenomena. But the study of Greek is more than a search for roots. Many of the issues which we meet in Greek writers are of continuing interest, and their attitude to these issues was often quite different from our own. By studying the successes and failures of the Greeks in answering these perennial questions we learn much about ourselves as well.
The subject matter involved is wide and varied. The study of Greek not only accustoms students to devote close analytic attention to the form, meaning and effectiveness of literary and other texts; it also introduces them to a broad range of disciplines - language, literature (prose and verse), philosophy, history, social values and religion.
Greek at St Andrews
Greek, like Latin, has been taught at St Andrews since the foundation of the University in the early fifteenth century. The Greek Department at St Andrews has always enjoyed a very high reputation not only in Britain but worldwide. There are four separate teaching programmes, Greek, Latin, Classical Studies and Ancient History, that work closely together within the School of Classics. Greek is very much a subject in its own right, that may be studied on its own as a Single Honours subject, or jointly with Ancient History, Art History, English, Biblical Studies, Classical Studies, Hebrew, Italian, New Testament, Philosophy or Spanish. The degree in Classics includes the study of both Latin and Greek.
Courses
Sub-Honours Courses
(Note: All courses carry 20 credits)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
| Year 1 | GK1001. An intensive beginners’ Greek course, for those with little or no previous experience of the language. Taught through language classes and computer-assisted learning. GK1005. This course is designed for students with Higher or 'A' Level Greek, or an equivalent qualification: as well as providing carefully designed language classes, it develops their reading and appreciation of Greek literature through a special study of selections from Herodotus and a play of Menander’s. |
GK1002. This course provides a follow-on from GK1001, and introduces students to the reading of real Greek texts, both prose and verse: the set works are Lysias' speech On the Killing of Eratosthenes and a selection of Greek epigrams. GK1006. This course provides a follow-on from GK1005, and likewise seeks to build students' linguistic and literary skills. The texts studied are Lysias' speech On the Killing of Eratosthenes, selected elegiac poetry, and selected Greek epigrams. |
| Year 2 | GK2003. This course is designed for students who took GK1001/2 in their first year; it aims to build on the reading skills they will already have acquired. The set texts (currently a book of Homer and selections from Lucian) explore literary narrative and dialogue in both prose and verse. |
GK2004. This course aims to bring ex-beginners up to a comparable level with students who had studied Greek at school. The themes of the module are ‘pastoral and passion’, explored through a selection from the poems of Theocritus and from Longus’s novel, Daphnis and Chloë. GK2002. This course, following on from 2001, explores the themes of ‘pastoral and passion’ through a selection from the poems of Theocritus and from Longus’s novel, Daphnis and Chloë. |
You do not need to have studied Greek at school in order to study it at St Andrews. Allocation to First level modules in Greek is made in accordance with linguistic competence at the time of enrolment.
Those qualified by Higher or A-level Greek (or equivalent) begin the session by study of selected texts in both prose and verse; while those with a lesser qualification, or no prior knowledge, begin by undertaking an intensive language module.
Complete beginners can proceed to an Honours degree in Greek alongside those who have studied the subject at school.
The Second level modules introduce, among other things, the study of Hellenistic poetry and Imperial prose. Tutorials are held fortnightly. These deal primarily with linguistic instruction and literary discussion.
Honours (see Honours Booklet for more details)
All models are worth 30 credits unless specified. Some Modules on offer (2007-08):
- GK3021 Greek for Honours Classics 1
- GK3022 Greek for Honours Classics 2
- GK4102 Greek Tragedy
- GK4108 Helen of Troy and the Femme Fatale in Archaic and Classical Greek Literature
- GK4109 Greek Literature in the Roman Empire
- CL4421 The Ancient and Modern Novel
- CL4448 Thucydides: Narrative and Context
Classes in the Honours programme concentrate on the interpretation and understanding of major works of literature, historiography and philosophy ranging from Homer to the Imperial era. Options include epic, tragedy, comedy, and Greek literary criticism. Attention is given in tutorials to unseen translation from Greek. As well as studying the prescribed literature, students may choose from a range of modules, which include Modern Greek. The language modules allow flexibility of choice between Greek prose composition and stylistic analysis, and study of various scholarly techniques.
Greek may be studied with another subject (for example, philosophy) for a Joint Honours degree; or on its own for Single Honours. Alternatively, a student may elect to take Single Honours in Classics, where study rooted in Greek and Latin is combined with study of subjects in the fields of Ancient History or Ancient Philosophy. Most Honours teaching is conducted in small group tutorials.
At every level assessment is based partly on coursework done during the semester, partly on the degree examination at the end of the semester.