GK4130 The Greek Novels: Identity, Desire and Literary Transformation

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

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 10

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.

Availability restrictions

Available to General Degree students with the permission of the Honours Adviser

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

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

Module coordinator

Prof J P Konig

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

Module Staff

Professor Jason Konig

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

Module description

How do Greek novelists in the Roman empire represent love and desire, travel and identity, day-to-day life and extreme experience? This module focuses on two of the most brilliant and innovative texts of ancient prose fiction, Achilles Tatius’ Leukippe and Kleitophon and Heliodorus’ Aithiopika, set against the wider background of Greek, Latin, Jewish, early Christian and near eastern imperial prose narrative. The novel was one of most important inventions of the Roman empire: this module looks at the way in which these texts transform the literary heritage of classical Greece, including Homeric epic, Athenian tragedy, and Herodotean ethnography. Key themes include their portrayal of Greek culture and its relationship with Egyptian and Ethiopian identity, their portrayal of sex and gender, and their exploration of the interrelationship between humans, the gods and the environment. In the process the module also explores the influence of ancient prose fiction over the modern novel.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS GK2001 AND PASS GK2002 AND PASS GK2003 AND PASS GK2004

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 60% Written Exam = 40%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 seminars ( 2 hours x 11 weeks)

Intended learning outcomes

  • Develop Greek language skills by reading a large volume of text both from the set text prescriptions and from other authors in practice unseens classes.
  • Develop a sophisticated understanding of Greek imperial prose fiction within its wider literary and cultural context.
  • Develop skills of analysing specific passages from the set text prescription in their wider context.
  • Develop skills of reading, processing and analysing large volumes of primary and secondary material.
  • Describe and evaluate a range of scholarly approaches to the topic.
  • Formulate sophisticated arguments about the Greek novels using appropriate evidence and demonstrating awareness of the broader debates in the scholarship on the topic.