Helen of Troy

Catalog description

Helen of Troy was one of the most debated figures in classical literature, at once overwhelmingly attractive and responsible for the immense suffering and loss of the Trojan War. We will focus on Euripides' complex, playful presentation of the Helen myth in his tragedy Helen (in which she never goes to Troy at all), but will also look at portrayals of Helen by Homer, Sappho, Herodotus, and Gorgias. Reading knowledge of Greek or permission of instructor is required to enroll in this course.