Unit name | Greek Language Level B2 |
---|---|
Unit code | CLAS30037 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
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 |
Plato's Symposium is a literary masterpiece set at a high-society dinner in 5th-century Athens. As the wine flows, each member of the party gives a speech on the nature of eros. We are treated to an intimate glimpse of Athenian super-stars at leisure: the comedian Aristophanes, tragedian Agathon, physician Eryximachus, and-of course!-philosopher Socrates each present their vision of eros. Socrates' speech seems to cap a crescendo of interpretations, but just as he finishes, the enfant terrible Alcibiades bursts in and gives his own speech. Dressed like the god of wine himself, he narrates how he could not conform to Socrates' theory...and Socrates could not accept his passions... This conflict is all the more poignant in that Plato sets the dialogue near the time of Alcibiades' violent death. Socrates himself would be executed not long after. Who was ‘right’ about erotic love?
Aims:
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1.Demonstrate knowledge of Greek vocabulary at the standard of level B2
2.Identify and discuss Greek morphology and syntax as appropriate to level B2.
3.Demonstrate skills of independent reading and prepared translation, with reference works, of longer or more difficult Greek texts as appropriate to level B2.
4.Undertake at-sight translation of unseen Greek texts, without reference works as appropriate to level B2
5.Be able to demonstrate knowledge in the use of dictionaries, commentaries, or scholarship, and be able to relate this knowledge to their understanding and interpretation of a Greek text.
6.Demonstrate skills in working collaboratively
4 hours of Lectures, seminars and reading classes, grammatical instruction classes weekly
Formative collaborative commentary/group practical criticism exercise [ILOs 1-3, 4-6]
Summative 2 hour exam (100%) [ILOs 1-5]
Set Texts: