Classics 362: Intermediate Greek Homer and the Greek Epics Spring 2007, Beth Severy-Hoven, Macalester College

Course Description and Goals

This course is designed to develop your newly-acquired ability to read Greek. Your primary goal is to become comfortable with the grammar, syntax and basic vocabulary of Greek and at least familiar with Homeric forms. We will accomplish this by reading from Homer’s Odyssey using a commentary for beginning students and reviewing Greek grammar together and on your own. We will have several quizzes to check your progress, and we will translate together during each class period, sometimes from prepared passages and sometimes at sight.

Reading Greek is supposed to be about enjoying literature, however, not memorizing forms. I would like to emphasize this part of the course as much as possible as long as we continue to meet our primary goal. To this end we will read all of the Odyssey in translation (one of the finest adventure stories ever told), I will give short lectures on issues in Homeric scholarship, and students will independently read and report on recent articles. All of these are designed to enrich our frequent and lively classroom discussions, as well as give you ideas for a final paper. The essay assignment provides an opportunity to apply your ability to read Greek to a literary, linguistic or historical analysis of this ancient text in some depth.

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