WGST 406
Coming of Age in the Polis
Last Offered Spring 2005
Division I Writing Skills
Cross-listed CLGR 406
This course is not offered in the current catalog

Class Details

Studying a society’s modes of rearing its young, and especially the ways it prepares and tests adolescents for their “coming of age” into their adult roles, provides an excellent approach to exploring its fundamental values and institutional practices. Archaic and classical Greek literature not only reflects but actively reflects upon the socialization of boys and girls in the Greek polis. In this course we will read in Greek selections from the Homeric Hymns to Demeter and Apollo and, in its entirety, a tragedy (e.g., Sophocles’ Philoctetes), examining these texts through the lens of “coming of age.” We will read in English brief selections from Homeric epic and from elegiac and lyric poetry (monodic and choral), and several Athenian tragedies and perhaps a comedy. We will also read critical literature on childrearing, religious cults for boys and girls of different ages, and the role of dance, song and poetry in preparing the young for their adult roles, particularly in fifth-century Athens. Students will be divided into tutorial pairs chiefly according to their previous experience in Greek courses. Students will meet with the instructor once a week either individually or in pairs to present their translations of the Greek assigned for that week, and they will also meet once a week in pairs for the oral presentation of written 5-page reports. At the latter meeting, each student will alternate between making a formal presentation one week and, in the next week, offering an oral critique of the other student’s presentation.
The Class: Format: tutorial
Limit: 10
Expected: 6-8
Class#: 3711
Grading: no pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: evaluation will be based on the translations, reports, and critiques presented in the tutorial sessions
Extra Info: may not be taken on a pass/fail basis
Prerequisites: CLGR 201 or permission of instructor
Distributions: Division I Writing Skills
Notes: meets Division 1 requirement if registration is under CLGR; meets Division 2 requirement if registration is under WGSS
This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
CLGR 406 Division I WGST 406 Division I

Class Grid

Updated 8:07 am

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