European Ancient Literature - selected problems

compulsory

Central European and Balkan Studies

1st cycle

Course aims:

- to pass knowledge of basic terms referring to Greek and Roman literature,

- to inspire reflection on the place of Ancient literature among European literatures,

- to inspire reflection on the character of Greek literature as compared to Roman literature,

- to show representative works of ancient Greece and Roma and develop literary technique based on their interpretation,

- to obtain state-of-the-art knowledge of the subject matter of the lecture,

- to deepen one’s knowledge of selected problems of classical culture,

- to obtain knowledge of the coexistence of methodological trends.

Year 1

Lecture with a multimedia presentation.

5

Course learning content:

- greek literature of the archaic period – chronological and typological approach; most important writers and their work,

- greek literature of the classical period – chronological and typological approach; most important writers and their work,

- greek literature of the Hellenistic period – chronological and typological approach; most important writers and their work,

- greek literature of the Roman and Christian period – chronological and typological approach; most important writers and their work,

- archaic Roman literature,

- roman comedy,

- roman epic,

- roman lyric and bucolic poetry,

- literature and philosophy in ancient Rome,

- roman novel,

- christian literature in Roman antiquity.

Reading list:

Greek and Roman Literature, ed. O. Taplin, Oxford 2001. Additional literature provided by the lecturer.

On successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:

- assign particular texts to the authors of the discussed periods of Ancient Greece and Roma, describe life and literary work of the main poets and prose-writers of each period,

- arrange in chronological order events associated with the literature of a given period, distinguish between particular literary genres,

- explain the most important historical, political and literary occurrences of the discussed periods of Ancient Greece and Roma,

- put into words and refer the most important questions and problems associated with particular texts read in class,

- compare various approaches to the same subject, thread or motif in different texts of the period,

- use literary sources and secondary literature with no assistance,

- have factual knowledge in the field covered by the lecture.

Assessment criteria:

very good (bdb; 5,0): very good familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; very good understanding and ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

good plus (+db; 4,5): as above, except for minor deficiencies and inaccuracies.

good (db; 4,0): good familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; understanding and ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

satisfactory plus (+dst; 3,5): satisfactory familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; average understanding and ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

satisfactory (dst; 3,0): basic familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; shallow understanding and ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

unsatisfactory (ndst; 2,0): unsatisfactory familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; no understanding or ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.