Greek and Latin Literature (350-0-2)
Topic
Women of the Trojan War: Ancient and Modern Adapta
Instructors
Jennifer LeeAnne Cecelia Weintritt
Meeting Info
Parkes Hall 212: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
Homer, the Roman poet Statius tells us, left some things out. In this course, we'll study the long history of supplementing Homer's epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, by revisiting the experiences of mythical women, from the early fragmentary poems of Sappho to the 2018 novel, The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker.
Combining literary and visual evidence, this course examines the techniques by which authors writing in the wake of Homer intersect with brief moments in his foundational poems to authorize new stories for Helen, Penelope, Briseis and others. Along the way, we'll apply the theories and methods of modern fan studies, narratology, and adaptation studies to the evolving story-world of ancient Greek and Roman myth.
Class Materials (Required)
Required Texts
Blessington, F., Trans. 2015. Trojan Women, Helen, Hecuba: Three Plays about Women and the Trojan War. University of Wisconsin. ISBN: 978-0299305246
Atwood, M. 2005. The Penelopiad. Canongate. ISBN: 978-1841957173
Recommended Texts
Alexander, C., Trans. 2015. The Iliad. Ecco. ISBN: 978-0062046277
Wilson, E., Trans. 2018. The Odyssey. Norton. ISBN: 978-0393089059
Class Attributes
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area