Unit name | Greek and Roman Drama |
---|---|
Unit code | CLAS22363 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Michelakis |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Classics & Ancient History |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will examine a number of central dramatic texts from Greece and Rome; all texts will be studied in translation. The emphasis will be placed on understanding and appreciating the plays within the ancient contexts within which they were performed. In order to offer a thematic focus for this body of rich and diverse material, the unit will concentrate on a selection of dramas which retell mythological themes, and which in particular explore the relationship between gods and humans. Among the aims of the unit will be: to encourage students to consider notions of genre (tragedy and comedy), and to look at contextual differences between Greek and Roman theatre.
On successful completion of this unit students will:
the key features and historical developments of Greek and Roman drama.
1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour seminar per week
1 x essay of c. 2,500 words (50%) and 1 x 90 minute exam (50%).
Background Reading
Easterling, P. E. (ed.), (1997) The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Goldhill, S. (1986) Reading Greek Tragedy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Jones, J. (1980) On Aristotle and Greek Tragedy, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press Dover, K. J. (1972) Aristophanic Comedy London: Batsford Silk, M. S. (2000) Aristophanes and the Definition of Comedy, Oxford: Oxford University Press Boyle, A. J. (2006) An Introduction to Roman Tragedy, London: Routledge Sharrock, A. (2009) Reading Roman Comedy: Poetics and Playfulness in Plautus and Terence, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Beacham, R. C. (1991) The Roman Theatre and its Audience, London: Routledge
Set Texts
Aeschylus’ Persians (tr. C. Collard, Oxford University Press, 2008) Sophocles’ Ajax (tr. A. Garvie, Aris & Phillips, 1998) Euripides’ Medea (J. Morwood, Oxford University Press, 1998) Aristophanes’ Women at the Thesmophoria (D. Barrett, Penguin, 2007) Menander’s Samia (M. Balme, Oxford University Press, 2001) Plautus’ Amphitryon (W. De Melo, LOEB, 2011) Terence’s Eunuch (P. Brown, Oxford University Press, 2006) Seneca’s Medea (E. Wilson, Oxford University Press 2010)