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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of History, Classics and Archaeology : Greek

Undergraduate Course: Hellenistic Poetry (GREE10012)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe aim of this course is to study Hellenistic Poetry by examining in the original Greek a selection of important works or parts of works from this period. The works selected will change from year to year but will include poems or parts of poems by one or more of the major poets of the period such as Apollonius of Rhodes, Callimachus and Theocritus. Particular attention is paid to literary innovations and the interpretive issues that arise from them.
Course description During the course, students will read in Greek a range of texts that will include poems and/or passages from one or more of the most important poets of the Hellenistic period, such as Apollonius' Argonautica, the Hymns and other works of Callimachus, and the Idylls of Theocritus. Through close analysis of the poems in their original language, students will study the style and language of the poetry and its interpretation from a variety of perspectives. Students may also be expected to read more poetry of this period in English.

The course will explore the conventions and characteristics of Hellenistic poetry, focusing in particular on literary innovation. It will tackle the interpretative problems raised by Hellenistic literary practices, and modern critical approaches to those problems.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: ( Greek 2A (GREE08007) OR Greek 2a Ex-Beginners (GREE08009)) AND Greek 2B (GREE08008)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students should have achieved a Pass in Greek 2A (or Greek 2a Ex-Beginners) and in Greek 2B, with an average of 50% or above in the two courses combined.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should usually have at least 3 courses in Classics related subject matter (at least 2 of which should be in Ancient Greek) at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses but Elementary or Intermediate Greek courses will not count. Students beyond Intermediate level but with less Greek than the prerequisite should consider taking either Greek 2A/2B.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination, a thorough knowledge of the content of the Hellenistic works read;
  2. demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination, a good knowledge of the language and style of the works read;
  3. demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination, a good understanding of the literary innovations, conventions and characteristics of Hellenistic poetry;
  4. demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination, an awareness of the interpretative problems raised by Hellenistic literary practices and modern critical approaches to those problems;
  5. demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination, skills in close reading of original texts.
Reading List
Examples of secondary literature:

Acosta-Hughes, B. (2010) Arion's Lyre. Archaic Lyric into Hellenistic Poetry, Princeton.

Acosta-Hughes, B., Lehnus, L. and Stephens, S. (eds.) (2011) Brill's Companion to Callimachus, Leiden.

Campbell, M. (1981) Echoes and Imitations of Early Epic in Apollonius Rhodius, Leiden.

Clare, R. J. (2002), The Path of the Argo. Language, Imagery and Narrative in the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius, Cambridge.

Clauss, J.J. and Cuypers, M. (eds.) (2010) A Companion to Hellenistic Literature, Oxford.

Fantuzzi, M. and Hunter, R. (eds.) (2012) Tradition and Innovation in Hellenistic Poetry, Cambridge.

Fantuzzi, M. and Papanghelis, T. (eds.) (2006) Brill's Companion to Greek and Latin Pastoral, Leiden.

Hunter, R. L. (1993) The Argonautica of Apollonius. Literary Studies, Cambridge.

Klooster, J. (2011) Poetry as window and mirror. Positioning the poet in Hellenistic poetry, Leiden.

Papanghelis, T.D. and Rengakos, A. (eds.) (2008) Brill's Companion to Apollonius Rhodius, Leiden.

Rawles, R. (2019) Callimachus. London.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Special Arrangements In order for a student from outwith Classics to be enrolled on this course, contact must be made with a Course Secretary on 50 3580 in order for approval to be obtained.
KeywordsHellenistic Poetry
Contacts
Course organiserDr Richard Rawles
Tel:
Email: Richard.Rawles@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Jenni Vento
Tel: (0131 6)50 3781
Email: jenni.vento@ed.ac.uk
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