CL5022 Greek Literary Culture

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Module description

This module is aimed at students studying for the MLitt in Classics, specialising in Greek literature and culture but not taking language modules. It shares seminars with CL5122. Through a series of focused case studies, this module introduces students to key areas and concepts central to modern research on Greek literary culture and enables them to design their own short research project under the guidance of an individual supervisor. The precise range of topics covered changes each year, but typical topics might include the relationship between politics and literature in ancient Greece from the archaic Greek to the imperial Roman period, the impact of literary and cultural theory on the study of ancient texts, literature and the formation of cultural identity, the development and interrelation of key genres and modes of literary interaction, including poetry, oratory, historiography and fictional texts, and the reception of ancient Greek texts from late antiquity to the modern day.

Intended learning outcomes

• Identify and describe key areas and concepts central to modern research on Greek literary culture
• Design and successfully complete a short research project under the guidance of an individual supervisor
• Demonstrate aptitude in the key skills required for independent translation and study of literary texts in the original Greek
• Analyse a range of different key genres and types of ancient Greek texts in relation to their aesthetic social, cultural, intellectual and political contexts and in relation to their interactions with each other.
• Independently analyse and critically evaluate published research on Greek literary culture
• Independently devise coherent and critically aware arguments both orally and in writing on key aspects of Greek literary culture via a thorough analysis of the set primary texts and the evaluation of relevant published scholarship.