Epics of Greece and Rome

Catalog description

A survey of ancient Greek and Roman epic poetry focusing on close reading and discussion of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and Vergil's Aeneid, together with comparative consideration of other works. We will observe the transformation of the genre of epic poetry from its origins in oral poetry to the sophisticated literary masterpieces of Augustan Rome. Although the focus of the course will be on the ancient epics themselves, we will also observe the influence of these great works on the subsequent tradition of literature, the visual arts, music and film.