Unit information: Drama in 2022/23

Unit name	Drama
Unit code	CLAS20066
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Martin
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	Department of Classics & Ancient History
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

This unit considers the role of drama within the ancient world. We will consider a range of plays (in translation) from the Greek and Roman world, including both tragedies and comedies, and will consider the plays within their social, historical, and political contexts. Authors studied may include: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Menander, Seneca, Plautus, and Terence; dramatical works to be studied may include: Oedipus Tyrannus, Bacchae, Frogs, Phaedra, and Amphitryon.

Students will be expected to deliver a formative group presentation

Aims:

• To introduce students to the study of ancient drama, including the formal features of the texts and the circumstances of their original performance;
• To introduce students to notions of ancient genre and the contextual differences between Greek and Roman theatre;
• To provide an overview of key scholarly approaches to the study of ancient drama;
• To develop students’ critical reading skills;
• To strengthen students’ written skills through the course assessments.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this units, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of ancient plays, and the social, historical, and political contexts of their production, and their reception.
2. Evaluate the principal critical approaches and identify the issues involved in studying individual dramatic texts and the ancient genres of tragedy and comedy.
3. Construct coherent, relevant and persuasive arguments on different aspects of the subject.
4. Demonstrate skills in oral and written communication appropriate to level I.

How you will learn

This unit will involve a combination of independent investigative activities, long- and short-form lectures, and discussion. Students will be expected to engage with materials and participate on a weekly basis. Feedback will be provided for both formative and summative assessments, and this will be supported by meetings with tutors.

How you will be assessed

2,500 word essay (100%). [ILOs 1-4].

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CLAS20066).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.