Università Roma Tre

The course 'Greek Language and Literature I' offers a cultural-historical synthesis of the literary phenomenon in the ancient Greek world grounded in linguistic and hermeneutic skills. The course comprises:
(I) a cycle of lectures with a historical-literary character, which students will have to supplement with the systematic study of the textbook. In each lesson, historical contexts, literary genres and authors will be illustrated, with a focus on trends in recent criticism and the more specific aspects of literary analysis, especially from the point of view of the complex interaction between orality and literacy;
(II) an overview of the principles guiding the interpretation of the literary text, with particular attention to its linguistic and cognitive dimensions;
(III) the reading, translation and commentary of a selection of passages from Homer's Iliad (to be prepared in full).
Attendance at the course, although optional, is strongly encouraged. For attending students, a reduced bibliographic load and examination paper will be provided (see below). Attending students must guarantee attendance at least two thirds of the lessons (27 out of 40 hours).

(A) It is essential to study a comprehensive textbook on the history of Greek literature from among those on the market; (B) a specific bibliography on Homer will be provided during the course; (C) a translation of the Iliad with the Greek text is necessary; (D) B. Gentili, Poesia e pubblico in Grecia antica. Da Omero al V secolo (Feltrinelli: Milan 2006).