Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - HUM 102W D100

Classical Mythology (3)

Class Number: 2551

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

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 studies key mythological figures and narratives emerging from the Greco-Roman world. It examines a selection of Homeric Hymns dedicated to various ancient Greek gods, before turning to Hesiod’s Theogony, which presents the different generations of divine entities and their origins. Sections of Ovid’s Metamorphoses are introduced in this context, tracing the evolution of these stories as well as the different encounters of immortals and mortals. The course also explores epic Homeric poems, starting with sections of the Iliad which present several heroes, warrior kings and their actions during the last phase of the Trojan war. What follows is a closer study of the Odyssey; the journey of Odysseus after the conclusion of the Trojan war, encountering a range of immortal beings and characters that are often referenced in contemporary culture, including Circe, the Cyclops, the Sirens, and his visit to the realm of the dead, before returning home to Ithaca. References are also made to sections of Virgil’s Aeneid, allowing for an exploration of similarities and key themes regarding the adventures of heroes and obstacles they encounter, after the war. Finally, the course examines selected ancient Greek tragedies by Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus, with protagonists and characters referenced to this day, allowing for further reflections on the continuities and discontinuities on the representation of important notions and stories emerging from the Greco-Roman world along with their legacies.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Upon completing the course, students should be able to:

  • demonstrate command of different sources from the Greco-Roman cultural tradition including visual and material sources;
  • understand themes and questions of central importance to humanities;
  • develop and demonstrate critical, analytical and creative thinking;
  • present clear, well-structured arguments in academic in academic writing;
  • engage texts from a variety of critical perspectives;
  • develop their own scholarly voice.

Grading

  • Attendance 4%
  • Portfolio entries (4) 36%
  • Quizzes (2) 20%
  • In-class exercises (2) 20%
  • Final Exam 20%

NOTES:

This course fulfills the Global Humanities requirements for the

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Knox, et al. The Odyssey / Homer ; Translated by Robert Fagles ; Introduction by Bernard Knox. Penguin, 1997.


ISBN: 978-0140268867

Green, Peter. The Iliad / Homer ; Translated by Peter Green. 1st ed., University of California Press, 2015.

Virgil, Aeneid. Ed. and Trans. Robert Fagles. Intro. Bernard Knox. Penguin, 2009.
ISBN: 978-0143105138

Grene, et al. Greek Tragedies I, Vol. 1, 3rd ed. U of Chicago P, 2013. / e-book
ISBN: 978-0226035284

Ovid. Metamorphoses / Ovid. 1st ed., Open Road Integrated Media, 2020. [online/SFU library catalogue]

Caldwell, Richard S. Hesiod’s Theogony ; Translated by Richard S. Caldwell. Focus Information Group, 1987. [online/SFU library catalogue]

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

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


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.