The College of New Rochelle
School of Arts and Sciences
Department of Modern and Classical Languages

Description: Exploration of the unique nature and continuing significance of Greek tragedy and Greek theater in the drama of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, with particular emphasis on the portrayal of women. Through reading the plays and literary criticism, as well as discussion, writing, research, and performance, understanding will emerge of the impact of this dramatic form, the civilization which produced it, and its survival in Western culture.

Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of the course students will demonstrate--
1. increased knowledge of cultural history through
        –appreciation of the achievement of the classical Athenians in the field of tragic drama,
        –understanding of ancient Greek tragedy as a distinct form of aesthetic expression,
        –familiarity with the conventions of the dramatic form and the ancient theater

2. Ability to analyze, evaluate, and compare the tragic vision of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides as expressed in their plays

3. insight into ancient Greek attitudes toward class and gender as they are reflected in the plays,

4. ability to use library and internet resources, individually and collaboratively, to research the ancient world

5. development of the imagination through participation in the creative process

Materials of Instruction:
Required class texts (please use these editions which have been chosen for diversity and price):
       1. Ley, Graham, A Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theater. Chicago: U Chicago Press, 1991 (pb)
       2. Aeschylus The Complete Greek Tragedies: Aeschylus I. Edited by David Grene and Richmond Lattimore. Chicago: U Chicago Press, 1953 (pb)
       3. Sophocles: The Theban Plays. Translated by Peter Meineck, Paul Woodruff. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2003 (pb).
       4. Euripides: Ten Plays. Translated by Paul Roche. Signet Classic: Penguin (pb)

Bibliographies on the ancient theater, performance, each of the tragedians, Aristotle.

Additional readings: articles, reading guides, outlines on Angel or on library reserve.

Visual aids including slides, prints, and videotaped performances of plays.

Internet resources on the plays and on the classical world, such as Diotima, Perseus, VRoma, will be hot-linked on Angel along with assignments.

If possible, a class field trip will be arranged to one professional live performance of a tragedy.

Methods of Instruction:
Discussion in class and on Angel of assigned plays, essays, and student texts
Critical viewing of video productions of ancient tragedy
Print and electronic writing: journal, question-response, library and Internet research
Student-led seminars
Independent research assignments to identify resources on the Internet
Dramatic readings and performance
Electronic exchange on Angel, assigned and informal
Class field trip, preferably a live performance of tragedy.

Requirements: Students are expected to complete all of the following--
        1. attend all class meetings with course materials, arriving promptly and remaining to the end of class. (all objectives)
        2. come to class prepared and submit all assignments on time and in full: oral presentations must meet guidelines; written work must respond to instructions and conform to standards for formal writing (use your writing manual), be typed, word-processed, or handwritten clearly (all objectives)
        3. read closely, reflect critically, and contribute thoughtfully to discussions and in-class writing on assigned texts and videos (objectives 1-4)
        4. Seminar Project: design and lead (with a partner) a minimum one-hour seminar on a Greek tragedy (all objectives)
        5. Journal Project: maintain and submit for grading a reader-response journal on the plays, selected readings, and class discussion; the journal may also include creative entries, such as poetry and art, but these must be accompanied by an interpretive narrative. Journals must be submitted when assigned. Evaluated journals must be kept together in order and handed in on the last day of the semester in the purple file folder supplied (objectives 2, 3, 5)
        6. Performance Project: class presentation and performance of a Greek tragedy that we haven’t read together, using the style, period, and translation of your choice; readings and videos screened during the semester will suggest a variety of theatrical possibilities. Date: April 14. (all objectives)

Grading: Your grade will be based on the quality of your work * as follows:
        Class participation & assignments 60%
        Student-led seminar 20%
        Class Performance 20%

* Students found cheating or plagiarizing will fail the course, as well as those who do not complete all course requirements
Students with more than two un-excused absences will find their grade lowered one level for each additional absence
Alternative assignments will be offered only to students with excused absences

Course Policies: Your presence and full participation in this weekly Honors seminar are valued; therefore, those with more than 2 un-excused absences will find their grade lowered in this category (an excused absence requires a note from a doctor or other professional), as will students who regularly arrive late. Behavior appropriate to the learning goals is expected at all times. Since assignments are given in preparation for class discussion, late assignments will not be accepted (arrangements will be made only for those who have been officially excused). Students who are absent or late are expected to obtain assignments, notes, and materials from fellow students or from the professor during her office hours. Students with documented special needs must inform the professor at the beginning of the course of accommodations or services they require for successful academic participation.

Semester Schedule:
Our seminar meets in the Honors Center Fridays from 11 am-1 pm unless otherwise announced. This course is a Seminar, a small class of Honors students, which meets only once a week for two hours to enable you to share the learning, guided by substantial course materials, that you have engaged in independently, in collaboration with others and/or in conversation with me. It is expected that you will make every effort to be present, to arrive on time, and to be prepared for active participation in all of the seminar activities.

The assignment for the following week will be announced at the end of class and posted in full on Angel, along with study questions for reading and hyper-linked Internet materials to contextualize the assignment.

Class discussion, reading, and journal writing will involve perspectives on such topics as: the origin and development of Greek drama; the physical aspects of the theater and theatrical production; the social and political context of Greek tragedy – particularly the status of women, concept of democracy, the role of myth, ritual, and religion; ancient literary criticism; dramatic, literary, and performance features of each play; tragic vision, ancient and contemporary.

January 28: Introduction to the course content and each other; invitation to participate in the construction of the syllabus and requirements.

February 4: Reading of Aeschylus’ Agamemnon; look for details, guides, and visuals on Angel

February 11: Reading of Aeschylus’ Libation-Bearers (Choephoroi); look for instructions and materials on Angel

February 18: Reading of Aeschylus’ Furies (Eumenides); look for instructions and materials on Angel

February 25: Reading of Aristotle’s Poetics, Ley’s A Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theater; look for instructions and materials on Angel

March 4: Reading of Sophocles’ Antigone; look for instructions and materials on Angel
       1:30 departure for guided tour of the Alexander Exhibit at the Onassis Cultural Center in Manhattan

March 11: Reading of Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannos; look for instructions and materials on Angel

March 18: Snow Day; March 25: Spring Break

April 1: Reading of Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonos; look for instructions and materials on Angel

April 1-14: Director Kathryn Tyranski’s meetings, virtual and real, for the Performance project
       April 14, 7:30 pm Performance of The Trojan Women

April 15: Reading of Sophocles' Philoctetes; look for instructions and materials on Angel. Seminar Leaders Milena, Hasiba

April 22: Reading of Euripides' The Bacchae; look for instructions and materials on Angel. Seminar Leaders Kathryn, Judi

April 29: Reading of Euripides' Iphigenia in Aulis and Tauris; look for instructions and materials on Angel. Seminar Leaders Rochelle, Olamide, Leslie

May 6: Reading of Euripides' Medea; look for instructions and materials on Angel. Seminar Leaders Tiara, Renee

May 13: Reading of Euripides' Alcestis; look for instructions and materials on Angel. Seminar Leaders Binh, Shonda
        Submission of Journal Project
        Course and Learning evaluations