GREEK LITERATURE

The class is one of the characterizing activities of both the paths of the master's degree program:
LITERATURE, HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY - PHILOLOGY, LITERATURE AND HISTORY OF ANTIQUITY.
It proposes a study of linguistic structures and themes will afford a clearer view of the Epic as a whole, and will discuss the problems and perspectives on Epic genre in ancient World from the oral tradition (Archaic Age) to Quintus Smyrnaeus and Triphiodorus (Imperial Age). With insights into other genres and specific iconographic works in relation to the topic.

TROY IS BURNING. ILIOUPERSIS. THE FALL OF TROY
EPIC TRADITION FROM HOMER TO TRIPHIODORUS
1. Historical-literary competence. General knowledge of the problems and developments of the Greek literature of the Imperial Age.
2. Metrical competence: knowledge of the diachronic developments of the genre of the Greek epic and of the exameter from the oral tradition to the Hellenistic and imperial literature.
3. Ability to analyze and read the rhythmic structures of the verses, with an evaluation of the differences of the hexameter in a diachronic perspective.
Students will acquire an independent scientific ability to apply theoretical metrical knowledge to different poetic and literary genres.
4. Knowledge of the specific characteristics of oral epic diction and ability to apply theoretical skills to literary developments of the Hellenistic and Imperial Age.
5. Interpretation of the compositional and stylistic functions of the hexameter from oral to literature.
6. Thematic competence: ability to identify, analyze and describe with scientific autonomy the thematic and compositional elements of Iliou Persis in the epic genre and in other genres (tragedy, epigram, etc.)
Methods of analysis and literary theories can be concretely applied to other texts of Greek literature, but also more extensively than the European literary tradition.

It is required the knowledge of the hexameter. The students in the class must know the main problems of the Homeric question and Oral Composition. Students who do not have adequate knowledge of the Greek meter can usefully attend the first half of the workshop online: EXERCISES OF GREEK LITERATURE (METRICS).

ILIOUPERSIS. THE FALL OF TROY
The aim of the lectures is the linguistic analysis and the interpretation of Epic texts across the development of the genre in the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Imperial Ages. The class concerns textual problems, transformations of the Greek Myths, linguistic and compositive frames and patterns. A special attention shall be dedicated to the epic themes of the War and particularly to the Fall of Troy.
General knowledges: elements of the Homeric Language, History of Epic Language.
Greek texts:
a) Homerus Iliad, Odyssey: an anthology on the Ilioupersis
b) Hom. Iliad 22
c) Epic Cycle
d) Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica (books 12, 13)
e) Triphiodorus, Iliou Halosis
f) Euripides, Trojan Women (an anthology)
g) Apollodorus, The Library (Epitome 5)
Supplement for non-attending students
Hom. Iliad 6;
Hom. Odyssey 8;
Hes. Scutum.

Authors:
QUINTE DE SMYRNE, La suite d'Homère, vol. III, texte établi & trad. par F. Vian, Paris, 1969
QUINTO DI SMIRNE, Il seguito dell'Iliade, a c. di E. Lelli, Bompiani, Milano 2013
TRIPHIODORE, La Prise d'Ilion, texte établi & trad. par B. Gerlaud, Paris 1982

For the other Authors it is required a common critical edition (OCT, Loeb, Les Belles Lettres, Teubner, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla).

Outline of Greek Literature: L.E. ROSSI, Letteratura greca, Le Monnier, Firenze 1995, 561-818



Bibliography on Texts and Authors:
A. CAMEROTTO, Fare gli eroi. Le storie, le imprese, le virtù: composizione e racconto nell’epica greca arcaica, Padova 2009 (Cap. 3 Epiteti eroici, pp. 83-140)
A. CAMEROTTO, Troia brucia. Come e perché raccontare l'Ilioupersis, MIMESIS, Milano-Udine 2022, pp. 1.280


V. ANDÒ, Un bambino buttato giù dalle torri. La morte di Astianatte nelle Troiane di Euripide, Annali Online di Ferrara - Lettere 1, 2009, 255-269 [PDF]
K. BARBARESCO, La terra e il sangue (secondo Quinto Smirneo), Lexis 37, 2019, 323-339 [PDF]
L. BATTEZZATO, Vincitori e vinti: da Omero a Euripide, in A. Camerotto, M. Fucecchi, G. Ieranò (edd.), Uomini contro. Tra l'Iliade e la Grande Guerra, Milano - Udine 2017, 107-122 [PDF]
M. CADARIO, Il cavallo di Troia aveva le ruote? Riflessioni su tradizione letteraria e iconografia, in A. Capra, S. Martinelli Tempesta, C. Nobili (edd.), Philoxenia. Viaggi e viaggiatori nella Grecia di ieri e di oggi, Milano-Udine 2020, 223-236 [PDF]
M. CANTILENA, Cronologia e tecnica compositiva dei Posthomerica di Quinto Smirneo, in F. Montanari, S. Pittaluga (edd.), Posthomerica. Tradizioni omeriche dall'Antichità al Rinascimento, vol. 3, Genova 2001, 51-70 [PDF]
A.W. JAMES, Quintus of Smyrna, in A Companion to Ancient Epic, ed. by J.M. Foley, Oxford 2005, 364-373 [PDF]
M. YPSILANTI, Triphiodorus Homericus. People in the Iliou Halosis and their forebears in the Iliad and Odyssey, WS 120, 2007, 93-113 [PDF]

Epic Language:
A.C. CASSIO (a c. di), Storia delle lingue letterarie greche, Firenze 2008 [Introduzione generale, pp. 3-98]
G. HORROCKS, Homer's Dialect, in A New Companion to Homer, ed. by I. Morris & B. Powell, Leiden - New York -Köln 1997, 193-217
E. PASSA, L'epica, in A.C. Cassio (a c. di), Storia delle lingue letterarie greche, Firenze 2008, 99-144

For non-attending students, the following epic texts in the original language are added to the program:
Hom. Iliad 6;
Hom. Odyssey 8;
Hes. Scutum.
E. PASSA, L'epica, in A.C. Cassio (a c. di), Storia delle lingue letterarie greche, Firenze 2008, 99-144

The exam takes place in oral form, with an accurate check on the Greek texts in the original language. Reading, translation and commentary of the Greek texts. Knowledge and reading of main meters of the poetic texts (hexameter, iambic). Theory of literature and essays in the program in relation to the specific themes of the course. History of Greek literature (Hellenistic Age).

The teaching of the course is directly related to the research methods and the students are personally engaged in a relationship of participation in the scientific discussion and the study of texts. In addition to lectures, seminars are provided for teaching with a direct commitment of the students. Therefore, regular attendance is recommended for the particular characteristics of the course. For those who can not attend, the methods for reading and analyzing the texts can be discussed personally with the teacher.

Italian

SEMINAR-WORKSHOP OF GREEK LITERATURE
In connection with the course of Greek Literature is held a seminar-workshop on the lessons themes.

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development