East and West in Greek literature 03-AP-EWG

Course learning content:
- reading and interpreting Greek texts in translation,
- evaluating the difficulties in understanding,
- articulating own ideas in an academic and professional way,
- being able to distinguish between a concept developed by an author in antiquity and a modern technical term in literary science,
- getting a clear view of the difference between a primary and a secondary source, i.e. between Bruce Chatwin and Herodotus,
- understand what is meant by ideology, i.e. a biased perspective which becomes fashionable, and an academic, distanced approach.

Module learning aims

Course aims: To inform on the history of the antithesis between East and West, alluded to already in the Iliad, fully developed by Herodotus; to inspire reflection on Greek texts as sources for the modern concept of orientalism; to assess critically a purely fictitious portrait of Easterners as is presented to us by Aeschylus in his Persians; to discuss archaeological evidence.

Methods of teaching for learning outcomes achievement

Problem-based lecture, discussions, text-based work, case study work, problem-based learning, creative methods, group work, close reading, using commentaries and making sense of textbooks.

Student workload (ECTS credits)

Module type

elective

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences

Basic understanding of technical terms in literary science; elementary knowledge of European literary history.

Course coordinators

Gerson Schade

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
- conceive and write an essay on a literary text,
- understand better the characteristics of Greek literature,
- acknowledge the impact of Classics,
- critically evaluating various methodological perspectives applied to analyzing texts,
- getting extensive factual knowledge in the field covered.

Assessment criteria

Grade system:

very good (bdb; 5,0): very good familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; very good understanding and ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

good plus (+db; 4,5): as above, except for minor deficiencies and inaccuracies.

good (db; 4,0): good familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; understanding and ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

satisfactory plus (+dst; 3,5): satisfactory familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; average understanding and ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

satisfactory (dst; 3,0): basic familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; shallow understanding and ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

unsatisfactory (ndst; 2,0): unsatisfactory familiarity with the problems and methodologies discussed in the lecture; no understanding or ability to interpret the facts from a number of perspectives.

Bibliography

Reading list:
Bruce Chatwin, The Volga, in: B.C., What am I doing here, London 1989, 170-91.
E. Hall, Inventing the Barbarian: Greek Self-Definition through Tragedy, Oxford 1989, 56-100.
E.W. Said, Orientalism, London 1978.
Aeschylus, The Persians (complete).
H.D. Broadhead, The Persae of Aeschylus, Cambridge 1960, xv-xxxii (on tragedy and patriotic celebration).

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 03-AP-EWG in USOSweb