CL2003 Early Greek Poetry and Philosophy

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

9.00 am

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module Staff

Team taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Early Greece was the age of beautiful poetry and cutting-edge philosophy. The module explores the diversity of early Greek thought at the crossroads of poetry and philosophy, from the 8th to the 5th century BCE starting with Hesiod's struggle to re-order the world of gods and humans: Hesiod's work stands side by side with Homer's poems as foundational works of ancient Greek epic. We then consider the exciting literary and intellectual experiments of lyric poets and philosopher poets, who saw poetry as a way of writing philosophy, exploring love and attacking enemies. Authors to be studied include Sappho, Theognis, Solon, Xenophanes and Empedocles. All texts will be studied in translation.

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 lectures (x 11 weeks) and 8 tutorials across the semester.

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

170

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • demonstrate an understanding of the development and the importance of Greek poetry in this period;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the philosophical and literary achievements of early philosopher-poets;
  • read Greek poetic texts in close analytical manner and interpret those texts within their cultural context;
  • gather and sift primary evidence and use secondary literature to formulate informed, well-structured arguments, and present them both orally and in writing