CL 123A/PH 299A: Women in Classical Literature

T/F 9:30-10:45, DMH 331

Instructor: Dr. Sara Brill

Office: DMH 307

Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:00-3:30, Friday 2:00-4:00

Email: sbrill@mail.fairfield.edu

Course Description

Ancient Greek and Latin literature presented its audience with a cast of characters who continue to enjoy social, political and cultural currency. Antigone and Oedipus, Helen and Paris, Cassandra and Prometheus have all had a hand in shaping western thought about the natures of beauty and freedom, the limits of human knowledge, and the role of law. The prominence and frequency with which ancient Greek and Latin cultures presented in text and on stage aspects of the lives of the very characters—women, ‘barbarians’ and slaves—who were marginalized in those same societies is striking. In this course we will focus specifically upon the literary characterizations of women found throughout the ancient Greek and Latin worlds. Our primary goals will be:

· to attain a nuanced understanding of the characterizations of women offered by a variety of classical texts that span both genres and time periods and that continue to shape Western attitudes towards women

· to develop an ability to assess the degree of complexity with which these texts treat their characters

· to critically evaluate these characters as well as the extent of their continued influence on western culture

The emphasis of the course will be on the careful reading and analysis of primary texts in translation. In order to facilitate these goals, students will also need to have some grasp both of the historical conditions in which these texts were written, and of contemporary philosophical receptions of these characters. Accordingly, primary texts will be supplemented with a selection of appropriate secondary literature.

Student Responsibilities

Put most simply, successful participation in this class is predicated upon your attendance and your preparation. All reading material is to have been read carefully prior to coming to class and is to be brought to class; students must be prepared to attempt answers to questions posed in class, and to pose their own. Two absences will be permitted without repercussion on your final grade. Subsequent absences will result in a 5% decrease in your overall course grade, unless accompanied by documentation of a University approved absence. Late work will not be accepted. On days when you are absent, it is your responsibility to catch up on missed course notes.

Coursework: In this course you will be assessed according to five criteria:

1. Participation: as determined by attendance, preparation, willingness and ability to engage in class discussion. Because attendance consists of both mental and physical presence, should you be called upon in class and be unable to respond in a manner that indicates you have done the reading, or should you come to class without the reading materials to be covered in your possession, I will count that as half an unexcused absence.

2. Reading Notes: For most of our readings, I will give you study questions to respond to as you are dong to reading in order to guide your attention to some of themes in the week’s reading that we will spend our time talking about in class. You are responsible for responding to these study questions. You may do so in note form, either handwritten in a notebook separate from your class notes or typed, but if you choose to type your responses you must print them out and have them with you at all times. Throughout the course I will randomly collect your responses and check them for completion. Late work will not be accepted under any circumstances; however, I will drop the lowest Reading Notes score in assessing your final grade. This writing assignment is designed not only to foster careful and critical reading skills but also to get you into the habit of writing.

3. Short Papers: At two points in the semester I will ask you to select one of your study question responses and develop it into a short (5 pages max.) response paper that will be collected and graded. This writing assignment is designed to aid you in your preparation for your final paper.

4. In-class Presentation: Each student will be required to lead one in-class discussion of the text. In addition, students will be expected to give a brief presentation of their final paper topics during the last week of class.

5. Final paper: a final paper (10-15 pages) tracing a classical author’s treatment of one particular character with a contemporary treatment of the same figure, using supplementary secondary literature.

Grade Breakdown

Participation: 10%

Reading Notes: 15%

Short Papers: 30%

In-class Presentations: 20%

Final Paper: 25%

Grading Scale:

A Outstanding, 93-100 (4.00)
A-, 90-92 (3.67)
B+, 87-89 (3.33)
B Superior, 83-86 (3.00)
B-, 80-82 (2.67)
C+, 77-79 (2.33)
C Acceptable, 73-76 (2.00)
C-, 70-72 (1.67)
D Minimal but passing, 60-69 (1.00)
F Unacceptable (course must be repeated to obtain credit), 0-59
I Incomplete*
W Withdrawal

Required Texts

Aeschylus, Oresteia, trans. Robert Fagles

Aristophanes, Lysistrata, Trans. Sarah Ruden

Euripides, Alcestis, Medea, Hippolytus, Trans. Diane Arnson Svarlein

Sophokles, Complete Plays, Trans. Carl Mueller

Seneca, Four Tragedies and Octavia, Trans. E. F. Watling

Racine, Iphegenia, Phaedra, Athaliah, Trans. John Cairncross and E. F. Watling

In addition to these texts you will receive handout selections from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid and Ovid’s Metamorphosis as well as handouts of secondary literature.

Academic Integrity:

Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this course. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Students who are found to be dishonest will be reported to the University for disciplinary action.

Fairfield University encourages qualified people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities and is committed to the policy that all people shall have equal access to programs, facilities, and admissions without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation in this course or have questions about physical access, please get in touch with Student Support Services, extension 2445 and tell the instructor as soon as possible.

Tentative Schedule of Readings:

Week 1

1/15: Intro

1/18: Homer, Selections from Iliad and Odyssey

Week 2

1/22: Sappho, Hesiod (Hekate, Prometheus, Pandora)

1/25: Pericles’ Funeral Oration

Week 3

1/29: More on Pandora

2/1: Intro to classical tragedy

Week 4

2/5: Aeschylus, Agamemnon

2/8: Aeschylus, Agamemnon

Week 5

Monday 2/11: FILM, TBA, Library Multi-Media Room, 7:00-9:30

2/12: Discuss Film, Sophocles, Antigone

2/15: Sophocles, Antigone, receptions of: Hegel, Lacan, Irigaray, Butler

Week 6

2/19: No class (Monday schedule)

2/22: Sophocles, Antigone, receptions of: Leonard and Goldhill; Short Paper #1 Due

Week 7

2/26: Aristophanes, Lysistrata

2/29: Aristophanes, Lysistrata

Week 8

3/4: No class, Spring Break

3/7: No class, Spring Break

Week 9

3/11: Euripides, Medea

3/14: Euripides, Medea

Week 10

Monday 3/17: FILM, TBA, Library Multi-Media Room, 7:00-9:00

3/18: Discuss film

3/21: No class, Easter Recess

Week 11

3/25: Euripides, Hippolytus

3/28: Euripides, Hippolytus

Week 12

4/1: Seneca, Phaedra

4/4: Racine, Phedré

Week 13

4/8: Virgil, Aeneid, Book IV, Ovid selections from Metamorphosis and Heroines

4/11: No class

Week 14

4/15: Intro. writing and women; Short Paper #2 Due

4/18: Writing and women (Cixous, Woolf and Kristeva)

Week 15

Monday 4/21: FILM, TBA, Library Multi-Media Room, 7:00-9:00

4/22: Discuss film

4/25: Students final paper presentation

Week 16:

4/29: Student final paper presentations