GREEK LITERATURE

The class will consist of a reading, translation and commentary of selected passages of books 10 and 11 of Homer's Odyssey. A metrical reading and a translation of the texts will be provided along with an explanation of the narrative technique of Homer, of epic and hymnic poetry, of formulaic composition, of the importance of myth in archaic poetry, on the sorceress Circe and magic in archaic Greece, on the early evidence and the iconography of the metamorphosis of Odysseus' companions into animals, on the theme of catabasis from the Epic of Gilgamesh to the Greek catabaseis (those of Heracles, Orpheus, Theseus and Peirithous), on cult practices, the Oracles of the Dead and the Underworld.
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Students will acquire the primary competence and familiarity with Greek poetic texts through the tools of a grammatical, mythological and literary analysis of a seminal text (Homer's Iliad) placed at the very roots of Western Literature and civilization, and at the crossroad between epic and modern novel. The skills acquired with a detailed analysis of the various aspects and facets of such a pivotal text (and of a subgenre represented by the Homeric hymn to Demeter) will also enable students to tackle whatever text they will come across in the future . This implies contextualizing a text in the society and modes of communication where it originated, as well as deciphering the many implications that such a sophisticated and ancient text is still able to convey in the present age.

A sound competence in Greek language and grammar is preliminary to the class, and familiarity with the reading of hexameter and knowledge of its basic norms is most welcome. However, students are given the opportunity to become familiar with the rules and practice their reading of epic poetry in the course of the year, by attending a parallel class on Greek metre.

The literary, linguistic, and mythological approach of this class will be supplemented and expanded by the study of magical and sacrificial practices in archaic Greece, of the cult of the dead, and of the catalogue nature of the section on the heroines met by Odysseus in book 11, a book which displays significant parallels with the epic catalogic poem 'par excellence', the Hesiodic Ehoiai or Catalogue of Women..

NOTA BENE. Unless otherwise indicated, the bibliography collected here is not mandatory: it is only meant to help students in preparing their exam and for a better understanding of the many problems related to Homeric poetry.

Texts to be read in Greek:

a) Homer, Odyssey 10 and 11.

b) 


Thucydides, book I, chapts. 1-25;

Greek texts with translation. Students are advised to buy befire the class begins one the following volumes of the Odyssey.
For theOdyssey: the translations by Rosa Calzecchi Onesti, Omero. Odissea Einaudi / Mondadori ; V. Di Benedetto, Omero. Odissea, Milano, BUR 2010; F. Ferrari, Omero. Odissea, Torino, UTET, 2001, 2014 (in prose)..

For Thucydides the translations (with Greek text) by L. Canfora (Laterza / Einaudi), F. Donini (UTET/TEA), P. Rosa (Rusconi Libri 2016) are particularly recommended.

SUGGESTED READINGS to help students improve their understanding of the texts and of epic poetry in general.
Commentaries.
For Odyssey 10 & 11: Omero Odissea. vol. III (Libri IX-XII), a cura di A. Heubeck, trad. (prose transl.) di G. A. Privitera, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla /Mondadori 2007; O. Tsagarakis, Studies in Odyssey 11, Stuttgart 2000.

For the language of epic poetry see E. Passa, 'L’epica', in A. C. Cassio (a cura di), Storia delle lingue letterarie greche, Le Monnier 2016, 139-86; for an introduction to Greek metre see M.C. Martinelli, Gli strumenti del poeta. Elementi di metrica greca, Cappelli 1995.
 Students are required become familiar with history of Greek literature referring to the archaic and classical age; the following textbooks are recommended: D. Del Corno, Letteratura greca (Principato); G. Guidorizzi, Letteratura greca (Mondadori Universita'); A. Porro, W. Lapini, Letteratura greca, Loescher / Il Mulino 2012-2017; L.E. Rossi, Letteratura greca (Le Monnier); Other text-books can be agreed upon previously with the faculty.

Students are also required to read chapt. III of F. Graf, Il mito in Grecia, Bari 1987 (Laterza); they will also profit from chapters VIII, IX, XI of F. Montanari, Introduzione a Omero, Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura 2013.

The oral exam consists of the metrical reading, translation and commentary of some passages of the two epic texts, of a series of questions verging on the origins and characteristics of epic poetry, on the structure of the Iliad, on the various heroes and related themes. The translation of a passage by Thucydides will then follow, along with a few more questions on grammar and language. The last questions will concern the history of Greek literature, with two questions on authors from the archaic and classical period.
Students are also required to read metrically and translate (with grammatical competence on the main issues) passages which are not dealt with in class.

Traditional teacher-led classes, contemplating the possibility of a more seminar oriented approach in a final session of the class, with the aim of discussing the themes selected by the students at the beginning of the class. Students may choose to give a short paper focusing on literary, mythological, religious and anthropological issues (Circe and the world of magic in Greece, the theme of the descent to Hades, the heroines met by Odysseus in the underworld, the relation between Odyssey 11 and the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women, sacrifice to the Dead), or on the reception and elaboration in later periods down to the present century of the myths and themes dealt with in Odyssey 10 and 11.

Italian

Along with this class students are invited to participate in the Venice seminars di Scienze dell'Antichità, which are articulated in a number of initiatives in the span of the academic year. Participation in 5 seminars together with the writing of a short essay is rated 1CFU (credits).

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development