Sicily and the Greeks 03-AP-SG

Course learning content:
- reading and interpreting Greek texts in translation,
- evaluating the difficulties in understanding,
- articulating own idead in an academic and professional way,
- the varying concepts of colonization that prevailed in the classical world,
- the invention of literary place that differs much from the real,
- the great Greek myth: proud sailors from Odysseus to Onassis, and its relationship to Sicily, the most magnificent island of the Mediterranean world.

Module learning aims

Course aims: To inform on the history of the Greeks in Sicily, their most prestigious 'colony' ever; to inspire reflection on the importance of Greek poetry as a 'source' for our understanding of Sicilian Greek culture; to evaluate some important historical texts on Sicily; 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 knowledge in the field covered by the lecture.

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:
Pindar, Olympian Ode 1, Pythian Ode 2, Bacchylides, Epinikion 3.
Thucydides, The Peloponnesian Wars, 6: The Sicilian Expedition.
Euripides, Cyclops (selected passages).
Theocritus, Idyll 1, 11, 16.
L. Pearson, The Greek Historians of the West, Atlanta 1987.

Additional information

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

Description of 03-AP-SG in USOSweb