Fall 2024 - HUM 102W OL01
Classical Mythology (3)
Class Number: 4335
Delivery Method: Online
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Online
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Instructor:
Alessandra Capperdoni
acapperd@sfu.ca
1 778 782-3763
Office Hours: By appointment on Zoom
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Introduction to the central myths and literary sources of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The course investigates the nature, function, and meaning of myths in the classical world. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course introduces students to Ancient Greek and Roman mythology. We will read about the Achaeans’ war on Troy and the longed for, but sometimes fateful, homecoming of Greek heroes; Aeneas’ wanderings from Troy in search of a new land; the monstrous legacy left behind by Oedipus’s ‘fateful choices’; the end of the curse on the House of Atreus through the establishment of a system of legal justice; and finally, the bodily transformations of nymphs, satyrs, and humans as they are consumed by their passions and desires. In delving in the stories of gods, goddesses, lovers, heroes, and warriors from the ancient world, we will attend to the way in which these myths functioned in the socio-cultural context of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, and address the nature of myth as a fundamental construct of human societies. While focusing on the classical world, the course will also address the legacy of these mythologies in our times and the literary and cultural patterns that still make them resonant with contemporary readers.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
At the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate their proficiency in the following activities:
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Read and analyze Humanities texts creatively and to academic standards, demonstrating critical, analytical, and creative thinking.
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Place texts in their historical and cultural context, understanding the perspectives of the peoples and texts that they are studying.
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Analyse classical mythology in relation to the political and social relations of Ancient Greece and Rome.
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Gain an understanding of contemporary reinterpretations of classical mythology in the social world.
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Write about literary texts analytically by becoming proficient in modelling interpretation, linking claims to evidence, developing a thesis, structuring a paper, and using sources effectively.
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Communicate effectively and develop their own scholarly voice.
Grading
- Contribution to discussion board 5%
- Analysis posts (4 x 5%) 20%
- Two essays (15% + 20%) 35%
- One creative assignment 5%
- Midterm 15%
- Final exam 20%
NOTES:
Ungraded assignments (mandatory):
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Quizzes
To receive credit for this course, students must complete all assignments.
Midterm Date: Friday, October 18 at 8pm (proctored on Zoom)
Tutorials:
- TUT O101 and TUT O102 : Alessandra Capperdoni (acapperd@sfu.ca)
- TUT O103 and TUT O104 : TBA
This course fulfills the Global Humanities requirements for the
REQUIREMENTS:
No Pre-Requisites.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
- Homer, Iliad and Odyssey; and Virgil, Aeneid. BOX SET (or individual volumes). Ed. and Trans. Robert Fagles. Intro. Bernard Knox. Toronto, ON: Penguin, 2009 ISBN: 978-0147505606
Alternative translations: Richmond Lattimore for Iliad and Odyssey (in print); Peter Green for Iliad and Odyssey (also available online through the catalogue of the SFU library); Robert Fagles for Aeneid (also available as e-book).
- Grene, David, Richmond Lattimore, Mark Griffith, and Glenn Most, trans. and eds. Greek Tragedies I, Vol. 1, 3rd ed. Chicago, Il: U of Chicago P, 2013. ISBN: 978-0226035284 (e-book also available)
- Ovid, Metamorphoses. Trans. A.D. Melville, Ed. and Intro. E.J. Kenney. New York: Oxford UP, 2008. ISBN: 978-0199537372 (e-book also available)
Note: only the listed translations are accepted
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.