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GRS 277:  Greek Tragedy & Comedy

Prof. Nancy Sultan
Illinois Wesleyan University

Syllabus, Fall 2004
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    reserves
class websites
 

Prof. Nancy Sultan, Buck 206
Office Hrs: MWF 11-12; MW 2-3 and by appointment
Tel:  556-3173

Required Texts* Since translations vary widely, please purchase these editions:
1. Aeschylus,  Oresteia, trans. R. Fagles.
2. Aristophanes, Acharnians, Lysistrata, Clouds, trans. J. Henderson.
3. Aristotle, Poetics, trans. by Malcolm Heath.
4. Euripides, Ten Plays , trans. P. Roche.
5. Sophocles, The Three Theban Plays, trans. R. Fagles.
6. Sophocles II: Ajax, Women of Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes, ed. Grene & Lattimore.
**There are also items on reserve at Ames.
 

Evaluation:
Class participation (discussion)    15%
Scene Study       20%
4 essays (exegeses)      10% each
Participation in Eumenides Chorus Workshop  25%

Course Description
In the 5th century B.C.E. Athens was the intellectual and artistic center of Greece. Here the dramatic festival of Dionysus was held every spring in his theater at the foot of the Acropolis. In this course we will study the best plays performed during this festival, written by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes We will focus on the structure, style, and significance of the plays, and examine  issues of Athenian politics, gender, and religion.

Workshop: Aeschylus, Eumenides
As part of our study of ancient Greek performance techniques, during the first few weeks of term we will work together with Profs. Sara Freeman and Kurt Trout in the School of Theatre Arts to create a memorized performance, in mask, of a choral ode from Aeschylus's play Eumenides, lines 306-407 (Total memorized part will be about 60 lines). We will study the ancient performance of a choral ode as we make our own masks and rehearse a choral dance with musical accompaniment, based on the rhythm and meter of the original Greek.

Scene Study
Students will be split into four groups for a scene study during the term.  You will not memorize, but will prepare thoroughly, a short scene or choral lyric to analyze and perform for the class. You will be responsible not only for preparing the scene, but for researching the historical background and scholarship. You will also be responsible for creating a list of discussion topics for the class, to be handed-out the class before your presentation.

Exegesis
These are short essay assignments that give you an opportunity to examine , explain, and comment carefully on a small selection of text.  You have a week to complete these essays Each exegesis  assignment  will have its own instructions.

Production of Racine's Phaedra at ISU
The 17th century French playwright Jean Racine was thoroughly grounded in Greek and wrote several plays based on Greek myths. ISU's Fall production of Phaedra runs October 27-30 (originally produced in 1677—based on the myth of the wife of Theseus who fell in love with her stepson, Hippolytus). We will study Euripides' version of the story (Hippolytus, 429 B.C.E.) and attend the ISU production as a class (there is a cost for this).

Production of Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphosis at ISU
Runs November 5-13. For extra credit, you may attend this modern adaptation of Latin poet Ovid's work Metamorphoses,heavy emphasis on the Orpheus/Eurydice story), which features a 30 ft. pool of water in the center of the stage.

Ground Rules/Grading Policy
Come to class!  I allow 3 unexcused absences.  You must attend regularly and participate to get your participation grades. Note:  You must keep up with the reading and actively join in discussion to get your points. I dock late papers one-half a grade for tardiness, one full grade for each day late.

A Note on Decorum
No hats, pajamas, risqué clothing,  gum, or food are allowed in class, unless you are in costume. You may bring a bottle of water.

Class Websites
 

Greek & Roman Studies at IWU
 Click on "Resources" button to find a large selection of useful links.

The Perseus Project
 Evolving digital library for the study of ancient Greece and Rome.  Contains  images, texts & commentary, encyclopedia, maps, historic overview, secondary  sources for research, and links.

Diotima
 Source for the study of women in antiquity from the U. of Kentucky.  Contains  bibliographies, texts, and other links.

Didaskalia
 Source for the performance of Greek and Roman drama, dance, music

Skenotheke: U. of Saskatchewan’s Theatre Site
 This project offers links to images of the ancient stage available on various sites on  the WWW
 
 
 

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

Assigned reading to be completed before the next class.

WEEK 1
Mon. 8/30: Introduction to the Course and to the Eumenides Chorus Project. (see hand-out)

ASSIGN: Introduction to Greek Tragedy, 10.2.x-10.2.5 in Perseus Historic Overview (use the arrow keys to scroll through the hypercard pages til you finish 10.2.5 in the box). Read Aeschylus, Agamemnon,trans. Fagles., up to line 840. Consult the notes and geneaology in back of text; read biography of Aeschylus (# 4, in the Perseus Project Encyclopedia)

View and print out the description of the Olympian Gods and Family Tree.
Keep handy the list of terms (h.o.) that we will be using all term.
Print out the time line
 

Wed. 9/1: Social Context of Athenian Drama; Aeschylus, Agamemnon.

ASSIGN: Finish the Agamemnon. Print out and examine the structure of the play and the Study Guide to Fagles' Translation of the Oresteia provided by Prof. Robin Mitchell-Boyask. View the lighting design of the Aquila Theatre production of the Oresteia

Fri. 9/3: Aeschylus, Agamemnon

FRIDAY @ 12 NOON: Mandatory Noon Lunch meeting with Prof. Curt Trout, who will explain the mask-making project and give you some background; you will meet your team members from Sara's class, schedule a first rehearsal for 9/7 or 9/8, and set the performance date (Sept. 24, 26, or 27)

ASSIGN: Aeschylus, Libation Bearers. View the  Study Guide for the  LB. Read E. Hall, "The Sociology of Athenian Tragedy" on e-reserve.

WEEK 2
Mon. 9/6:  LABOR DAY —NO CLASS, BUT READ Aeschylus, Eumenides (must be finished by 9/10)

Wed. 9/8: Aeschylus, Agamemnon

ASSIGN:  S. Goldhill, "The Audience of Athenian Tragedy" on e-reserve; view in 3-D the Theatre of Dionysos

Fri. 9/10: Aeschylus, Libation Bearers

ASSIGN:  L. McClure, "Logos Gunaikos: Speech & Gender in Aeschylus' Oresteia," on e-reserve; examine the Study guide for the Eumenides

WEEK 3 (Mask-making week)
Mon. 9/13: Aeschylus, Libation Bearers. Prof. Sultan visits Sara's class today.

ASSIGN: Y. Prins,  "The Power of the Speech Act:  Aeschylus’ Furies & Their Binding Song," on e-reserve

Wed. 9/15: Aeschylus, Eumenides

ASSIGN: G. Ley, "Modern Performances of Greek Tragic Dancing" (on-campus through Project Muse. Also available via e-reserve under on Sara Freeman's 371 class, pw 371); view film of Eumenides on reserve.

Fri. 9/17: Eumenides;Sara Freeman presents in our class today.

ASSIGN: J. Winkler, "The Ephebes' Song: Tragoidia and Polis," on e-reserve

WEEK 4 (Rehearsal Week Outside Class—performance at end of week/beg. of next week)
Mon. 9/20: Eumenides & the Greek Chorus

ASSIGN: WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES. Bring Aristotle, Poetics to class on Wed.

Wed. 9/22: Structure and Aesthetics of Tragedy: Aristotle, Poetics

ASSIGN: WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES. Bring hand-out provided on "Music" to class on Friday

Fri. 9/24: Meter and Music in Greek tragedy/comedy

ASSIGN: Introduction to Sophocles, Antigone and the play, trans. Fagles;  consult the notes and genealogy in the back of the text. Also, the biography of Sophocles (#3); print out the structure and discussion questions.  A Full commentary on the Antigone (by Sir Richard Jebb) is available;

WEEK 5
Mon. 9/27: Sophocles, Antigone

ASSIGN: Read H. Foley, "Sacrificial Virgins: Antigone as a Moral Agent," on e-reserve.

Wed. 9/29: Antigone

ASSIGN: View the film of Antigoneon reserve; read Modern Performances and Adaptations of Greek Tragedy, a lecture delivered to fellow classicists at our convention by Prof. Helene Foley (Barnard);
 

Fri. 10/1: Antigone
ESSAY 1 Handed Out

ASSIGN: Sophocles, Oedipus the King;R. Mitchell-Boyask's on-line Study Guide (you can ignore the comments that are addressed to his own class, but his links are great), and his worksheet on structure

WEEK 6
Mon. 10/4: Oedipus the King

ASSIGN: Read Aristotle, Poetics, intro. (xxii-xxxv) and pp. 10-31.

Wed. 10/6: Oedipus the King

ASSIGN: C. Segal, "Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus: Freud, Language, and the Unconscious," on e-reserve

Fri. 10/8: Oedipus the King
ESSAY 1 DUE

ASSIGN: Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, introduction and the play, with notes.

WEEK 7
Mon. 10/11: Oedipus at Colonus

ASSIGN: S. Blundell, "The Ideal of Athens in Oedipus at Colonus," on e-reserve

Wed. 10/13: Oedipus at Colonus

ASSIGN: Sophocles, Women of Trachis (in Sophocles II); study guide

Fri. 10/15: Women of Trachis

ASSIGN: N. Sultan, "Public Speech, Private Pain: The Power of Women's Laments in Greek Poetry and Tragedy," on e-reserve
 

WEEK 8
Mon. 10/18: Women of Trachis

ASSIGN: biography of Euripides on Perseus.

Wed. 10/20: SCENE STUDY: WOMEN OF TRACHIS, GROUP 1

ASSIGN: Euripides, Hippolytus; structure of the play and study guide
 

Fri. 10/22 FALL BREAK DAY
 

WEEK 9

Mon. 10/25: Hippolytus
ESSAY 2 Handed Out

ASSIGN: C. Segal, "Theater, Ritual, and Commemoration," on e-reserve

Wed. 10/27: Hippolytus

RACINE'S PHAEDRAAT ISU 10/27-10/30

Fri. 10/29: Hippolytus

ASSIGN: Euripides, Medea;  Study Guide and Structure

WEEK 10
Mon. 11/1: Euripides, Medea
ESSAY 2 DUE

ASSIGN: Read E. Fantham, "Women in Classical Athens: Heroines and Housewives," on e-reserve

Wed. 11/3: Medea

ASSIGN: Read Aristotle, Poetics, intro., pp. xxxv-xliii. Watch the video on reserve of the Medea and take notes on the performance; be ready to discuss the character of emotions that the play stimulates, and how those emotions might lead to katharisis, according to Aristotle's definition. Does the Medea represent "the best kind of tragic plot," according to Aristotle's descriptions?

Fri. 11/5: Medea

MARY ZIMMERMAN'S METAMORPHOSISAT ISU 11/5-11/13 (EXTRA CREDIT)
BOX OFFICE 438-2535

ASSIGN: Euripides, Bacchae, trans. Roche. Study guide; structure; Stephen Esposito's appendices to the Bacchae (very thorough commentary)
 

WEEK 11
Mon. 11/8: Euripides, Bacchae
 

ASSIGN: F. Zeitlin, "Playing the Other: Theater, Theatricality, and the Feminine in Greek Drama," on e-reserve

Wed. 11//10: Bacchae

Fri. 11/12:  SCENE STUDY, BACCHAE, GROUP 2
ESSAY 3 Handed Out
 

ASSIGN: biography of Aristophanes on Perseus; Introduction to Old Comedy

WEEK 12
Mon. 11/15: Laughter in Ancient Greece

ASSIGN: Aristophanes, Clouds (with introduction);study guide by Roger Dunkle; structure of the play

Wed. 11/17: Clouds

ASSIGN: Plato, Apology of Socratesexcerpt on e-reserve

Fri. 11/19: Clouds
ESSAY 3 DUE

ASSIGN: Aristophanes, Lysistrata (with introduction); study guide

WEEK 13
Mon. 11/22: Aristophanes, Lysistrata

ASSIGN: Read D. Konstan, "Aristophanes' Lysistrata: Women and the Body Politic," on e-reserve

Wed. 11/24  THANKSGIVING BREAK
 

WEEK 14
Mon. 11/29: Lysistrata

ASSIGN: Henderson, J.  1990. "The Demos and the Comic Competition," on e-reserve

Wed. 12/1: SCENE STUDY, LYSISTRATA, GROUP 3

ASSIGN: Read Aristophanes, Acharnians (with intro. pp. 13-21)

Fri. 12/3: Aristophanes, Acharnians

ASSIGN: Pericles' Funeral Oration  as recorded by ancient historian Thucydides (on Perseus, sections 2.34.1-2.36.1).

WEEK 15
Mon.12/6: War, Patriotism, and Aristophanes, Acharnians

Wed. 12/8: Acharnians

Fri. 12/10: New Comedy: Menander

FINAL ESSAY DUE 12/14 before 5:30 pm