Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Seminar | 10 x 2 Hour Seminars |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay Assignment 1 x 2500 word essay | 60% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours Written Exam 1 x 2 hour written exam | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resubmit Essay Assignment Resubmit failed or missing 2500 word essay | 60% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Resit Written Exam Resit failed or missing 2hr written exam | 40% |
Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the generic, historical and cultural contexts of the texts studied on the module.
2. Demonstrate an ability to analyse the texts coherently in terms of the appropriate critical approaches offered on the module.
3. Produce informed and well-argued written work that seeks to discuss the texts with reference to their generic, historical and/or cultural contexts and relevant theoretical and/or other debates.
4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the themes, forms and contexts of classical literature.
5. Work effectively as part of a team to communicate knowledge and understanding of your subject.
Aims
A previous knowledge of the Classics is not required.
Brief description
This module will be of special interest to students of English and Creative Writing and also to others interested in classical drama and mythology. The texts studied include Classical Greek Tragedy, Roman satire and pastoral poetry and Classical Mythology. The emphasis will be on the importance of fate, the role of the dysfunctional family in Greek myth and drama, Utopian and Dystopian myths and the major mythological themes of creation, society and death.
Content
Seminar 1: Introduction to the course – discussion of context and background: Restrictions and possibilities within the theatre
Lecture 2 Oedipus Tyrannus – the inexorability of fate
Seminar 2: Oedipus Tyrranus and Aristotle’s Poetics including short writing project
Lecture 3: Oedipus at Colonus – Sophocles and the city
Seminar 3: Antigone –obligations to family and city, including a modern interpretation
Lecture 4: Euripides’ Bacchae – the irresistible power of the divine
Seminar 4:The Iphigenia in Tauris and the Iphigenia in Aulis– women as creators of their own destiny or political victims
Seminar 5 Lecture 5 The rural idyll versus the corruption of the city
Seminar 5 Utopia or Dystopia including Roman satire and pastoral poetry and Greek Golden age myths including Plato’s Atlantis
Lecture 6 Mythology – Theories Through the Ages
Seminar 6 Importance of myth –group work on myths of choice
Lecture 7 Creation Myths (i) - biomorphic
Seminar. 7 Creation of man and of woman.
Lecture 8 Creation Myths (ii) – technomorphic
Seminar 8 The figure of Prometheus including Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound.
Lecture 9.Myths of the afterlife
Seminar 9 Plato’s Myths of the afterlife
Lecture 10 Orpheus
Seminar 10 Orphic myths in past and present.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | N/A |
| Communication | Written: sustain an argument for written work. Listen effectively and make coherent oral contributions to seminars. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Through independent reading and research. |
| Information Technology | Use of digital resources for research and PowerPoint for presentations. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Develop critical self-reflection and through the development of transferable communication and research skills. |
| Problem solving | Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of bodies of ideas and critical arguments pertaining to classic literature, including identity formation, trauma and the role of narrators; Construct a rational argument to a critical problem; undertake critical or evaluative work. |
| Research skills | Understand a range of research methods. Plan and carry out an analytical piece of writing. Produce suitably academically referenced and structured work. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Detailed critical/theoretical analysis of literary texts and evaluation of broad intellectual concepts. |
| Team work | Play an active part in seminar groups. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5