Course Catalogue

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This course studies a number of Greek tragedies and explores the critical approaches that can be applied to them. It encourages students to develop their own interpretative stance in dialogue with both theoretical perspectives and critical practice.

10x1 hr lectures, 10x1 hr seminars over 10 weeks.

Standard Entry to Masters

GREEK4008 Greek Tragedy

None

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Review 1 (theory) 1000 words - 20%

■ Review 2 (interpretation) 1000 words - 20%

■ Essay 3000 words - 60%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the assessments, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ study a selection of Greek Tragedy from the three canonical tragedians

■ engage in the interpretation of texts using critical strategies drawn from different traditions, and both ancient and modern

■ explore the scope and limitations of theory in literary criticism, with particular reference to Greek tragedy

■ develop a distinctive and personal critical position in relation to Greek Tragedy

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• identify the formal characteristics of Greek Tragedy as text and performance

• relate the set texts to their social, political and cultural contexts

• explain the theoretical foundations of modern critical approaches and apply them to the set texts

• evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of interpretations derived from different theoretical approaches

•reflect on their own critical stance in relation to Greek tragedy in the light of ancient and modern theories