This course studies a number of Greek tragedies and explores the critical approaches that can be applied to them.

Two hours per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours

options in Classics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are

available on MyCampus.

None

Examination (90 minutes duration) - 60%

Essay (3,000 words) - 40%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course will provide the opportunity to:

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

■ study a range of theories of poetry, literature and culture in the Western tradition

■ engage in the interpretation of texts through different critical strategies

■ explore the scope and limitations of theory in literary criticism

■ 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

■ relate the texts to their social, political and cultural contexts

■ recognise the principal themes in the set texts

■ explain the theoretical foundations of modern critical approaches

■ assess your own critical approach to Greek texts

■ use critical techniques derived from different theoretical traditions, ancient and modern

■ relate Classical criticism to theoretical positions

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

■ critique theoretical approaches through their application to texts

■ formulate their own critical position in the light of Classical critics and modern theorists

■ demonstrate such essay, seminar and exam skills as the department has stipulated in the Honours Handbook

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.