Tentative Schedule:
Honors Colloquium on Greek Comedy (CLST 4003H)
Spring, 2004: University of Arkansas.
Professor Daniel B. Levine
Illustration: Two girls playing with knucklebones (astragaloi). Perhaps from Taranto. Terra-cotta, 340-330 BCE. British Museum.
Week 1
Monday, January 12
Welcome and Preview
Wednesday, January 14
Background: Dithyramb, Tragedy and Satyr Plays (Sophocles' Tracking Satyrs and Euripides' Cyclops. CLICK HERE TO SEE IMAGES OF SATYRS AND SATYR PLAY
Reading Assignment: Read the two satyr plays as translated on thewebsite WWW.Perseus.Tufts.Edu.
Cyclops
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0094
(Length: about 710 lines) OR, If ou want to read the Cyclops on one web page have copied the text here.
Tracking Satyrs
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0221
(Length: about 410 lines) OR, If you want to read the Tracking Saytrs on one web page, I have copied the text here.
Writing Assignment: Write a short essay about the characteristics the two plays have in common. Try to list some characteristics of the Satyr Play genre based on your readings. Also, write two questions which your reading prompts (total not to exceed three pages, double-spaced, 12-point type). Due in class. No late papers, please.
Week 2
Monday, January 19
No Class. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.
Wednesday, January 21
Introduction to Aristophanes
Reading Assignment: Henderson vol. 1 Preface and Introduction (pages vii-39), and MacDowell Preface (p. v-vi), and Chapters 1 (Intention and Interpretation, pages 1-6) and 2 (The Audience and its Expectations, pages 7-26). TOTAL PAGES: 68
Writing Assignment: Summarize the information in the above works, and write two questions which your reading inspires (no more than three pages). No late papers, please.
PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS ABOUT COMEDY
Week 3
Monday, January 26
Aristophanes, "Early Plays" FILM: "THE GODS ARE LAUGHING: ARISTOPHANES, HIS LIFE AND THEATRE"
Reading Assignment: MacDowell, Chapter 3 "Early Plays", pages 27-45. TOTAL PAGES = 18
Writing Assignment: Summarize the main points of the chapter (maximum, two pages), and write two questions about the reading. No late papers, please.
Wednesday, January 28
Akharnians
Reading Assignment: Henderson,vol. 1, pages 48-217 (text) and MacDowell chapter 4 Akharnians (pages 46-79) (context)
(NOTE that you need to read only every other page in Henderson, as every other page is in Greek.) TOTAL PAGES: 120
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 2 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP DON BURROWS Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 4
Monday, February 02
Acharnians
Reading Assignment: none.
Writing Assignment: Write an essay (3 pages maximum) about the Acharnians. You may choose any appropriate essay topic from the list at the end of the Schedule, or you may click here to go to Essay Topics. No Late Papers, Please.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP EVIN DEMIREL Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, February 04
Knights
Reading Assignment: Knights (Henderson, pages 220-405); MacDowell's chapter Horsemen (pages 80-112). TOTAL PAGES: 124
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 3 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP STARK LIGON Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 5
Monday, February 09
Knights
Reading Assignment: none
Writing Assignment: Write an essay (3 pages maximum) about Knights. You may choose any appropriate essay topic from the list at the end of the Schedule, or you may click here to go to Essay Topics. No late papers, please.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP DEANNA PRATT Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, February 11
Clouds
Reading Assignment: Clouds (Henderson, pages 10-211); MacDowell's chapter Clouds (pages 113-149). TOTAL PAGES:136
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 3 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP AARON RANDOLPH Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 6
Monday, February 16
Clouds
Reading Assignment: none
Writing Assignment: Write an essay (3 pages maximum) about Clouds. You may choose any appropriate essay topic from the list at the end of the Schedule, or you may click here to go to Essay Topics. No late papers, please.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP ADRIAN DAVIS Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, February 18
Wasps
Reading Assignment: Wasps (Henderson, pages 223-415); MacDowell's chapter Wasps (pages 150-179). TOTAL PAGES: 125
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 3 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP SARAH DEAN Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 7
Monday, February 23
Wasps
Reading Assignment: none
Writing Assignment: Write an essay (3 pages maximum) about Wasps. You may choose any appropriate essay topic from the list at the end of the Schedule, or you may click here to go to Essay Topics. No late papers, please.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP HUNTER GOFF Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, February 25
Peace
Reading Assignment: Peace (Henderson, pages 429-601); MacDowell's chapter Peace (pages 180-198). TOTAL PAGES: 119.
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 3 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP (Not today) Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 8
Monday, March 01
Peace
Reading Assignment: none
Writing Assignment: Write an essay (3 pages maximum) about Peace. You may choose any appropriate essay topic from the list at the end of the Schedule, or you may click here to go to Essay Topics. No late papers, please.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP ANDY TOMASELLO, SARAH FINE and COLBY THOMPSON (Wasps) Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, March 03
Birds
Reading Assignment: Birds (Henderson, pages 13-251); MacDowell's chapter Birds (pages 199-228). TOTAL PAGES: 148.
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 3 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP ANDREW DODSON Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 9
Monday, March 08
Birds
Reading Assignment: none
Writing Assignment: Write an essay (3 pages maximum) about Birds. You may choose any appropriate essay topic from the list at the end of the Schedule, or you may click here to go to Essay Topics. No late papers, please.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP MICHAEL McCOY Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, March 10
Lysistrata
Reading Assignment: Lysistrata (Henderson, pages 267-441); MacDowell's chapter Lysistrata (pages 229-250). TOTAL PAGES: 108.
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 3 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP LEILANI LEA Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Pots in Lysistrata. Idea for a paper?
SPRING BREAK
Week 10
Monday, March 22
Lysistrata
Reading Assignment: none
Writing Assignment: Writing Assignment: Write an essay (3 pages maximum) about Lysistrata. You may choose any appropriate essay topic from the list at the end of the Schedule, or you may click here to go to Essay Topics. No late papers, please.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP DEANNA PRATT. Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, March 24
Thesmophoriazusae
Reading Assignment: WOMEN AT THE THESMOPHORIA:. Henderson volume 3, 455-615 (80 pages of English).
Written Assignment: Term paper topic search results. Write your choice of subject, and your preliminary thoughts, ideas about methodology, and hypotheses.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP AARON RANDOLPHChoose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 11
Monday, March 29
Thesmophoriazusae
Reading Assignment: MacDowell's "WOMEN AT THE THESMOPHORIA," PAGES 251-273.
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 3 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP SARAH DEAN Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, March 31
Frogs
Reading Assignment: Frogs in Henderson vol. 4, pages 15-235 = 110 pages of English.
Writing Assignment: Summary of work so far on your term paper, including annotated bibliography.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP. DON BURROWS. Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 12
Monday, April 5
Continue working on Term Papers.
Reading Assignment: ECCLESIAZUSAE (Assemblywomen ) in Henderson, vol. 4, pages 247-411 = 82 pages of English.
No Writing Assignment.
No Class meeting.
Wednesday, April 07
Ecclesiazusae
Reading Assignment: MacDowell,"Women at the Assembly", pages 301-323.
Writing Assignment: Write an essay (3 pages maximum) about ECCLESIAZUSAE. You may choose any appropriate essay topic from the list at the end of the Schedule, or you may click here to go to Essay Topics. No late papers, please.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP HUNTER GOFF Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 13
Monday, April 12
Ploutos
Reading Assignment: Wealth (Henderson, volume 4, pages 425-597 = 86 pages of English.
Writing Assingment: Hand in bibliography and preliminary research results for your term papers. This must include the primary and secondary sources you have read, and your analysis of the material to date. You should also include a preliminary outline of what you envision for your paper's form.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP MICHAEL MCCOY Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, April 14
Ploutos
Reading Assignment: MacDowell, "Wealth", pages 324-349, and Chapter 15: "Aristophanes and Athens," pages 350-356.
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in MacDowell's chapters, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 4 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP ADRIAN D. DAVIS Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 14
Monday, April 19
Menander; Introduction to "New Comedy"
Reading Assignment: W. G. Arnott's Loeb volume 1 of Menander. "Introduction", pages xiii-xlv.
Writing Assignment: Write a summary of the most important points in Arnott's Introduction chapter, and two questions of your own. Please write in complete sentences. No late papers, please. (maximum length: 3 pages)
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP ANDY TOMASELLO Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, April 21
Menander Dyskolos
Reading Assignment: Menander's Dyskolos, pages 181-355 = 87 pages of English.
Writing Assignment: Hand in a summary of your progress on your term paper, and be prepared to present your findings orally to the class.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP SARAH FINE Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Week 15
Monday, April 26
Menander Dyskolos
Reading Assignment: Read more of your Term Paper bibliography.
Written Assignment: Write more on your term paper.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP COLBY THOMPSON Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday, April 28
Old and New Comedy: Summary of the differences between Menander and Aristophanes.
Reading Assignment: Read more of your Term Paper bibliography.
Written Assignment: Write more on your term paper.
STUDENT REPORT ON ARISTOPHANIC SCHOLARSHIP LEILANI LEA Choose One Article from the linked page and type a summary (one page) with copies for the class to go with your presentation.
Wednesday May 05 12:30 PM Term Papers due.
Essay Topics.
Students will write a series of essays, due as indicated above. Students may choose the topic they think appropriate for each play, but before the end of the semester, every student will have written the essays which are marked with asterisks below.
Essay topics:
***1. What does the PARABASIS of this play say about THE NATURE OF COMEDY? [The parabasis of Acharnians is lines 626-718; the parabasis of Knights is lines 499-610; the parabasis of Clouds is lines 518-626; the parabasis of Wasps is lines 1010-1121; the parabasis of Peace is 729-817; the parabasis of Birds is 676-800, and a second parabasis at 1058-1117.]
***2. To what extent does the play refer to CURRENT EVENTS AND PEOPLE? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?]
***3. To what extent does the play refer to THE GODS AND RELIGION? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?]
4. To what extent does the play refer to or parody TRAGEDY, LYRIC AND/OR EPIC POETRY? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Thesmophoriazusae, Frogs, Acharnians, Wasps
5. To what extent does the play refer to ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY? [What does the play say about it? How does it represent it? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Knights, Acharnians, Ecclesiazusae, Wasps
6. To what extent does the play refer to issues of WAR AND PEACE? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Peace, Lysistrata, Acharnians
7. To what extent does the play refer to EATING, FOOD, DRINK, AND/OR COOKING? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?]
8. To what extent does the play refer to SEX AND OBSCENITY? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?]
9. To what extent does the play refer to CLOTHING, COSTUME, AND/OR DISGUISE? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Frogs, Acharnians, Ecclesiazusae, Thesmophoriazusae.
10. To what extent does the play refer to FAMILY AND FAMILY RELATIONS? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Clouds, Acharnians, Lysistrata, Wasps
11. To what extent does the play refer to MUSIC AND DANCE? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Birds, Wasps, Acharnians, Peace, Lysistrata
12. To what extent does the play refer to AGRICULTURE AND FARMING? ? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Acharnians, Peace, Knights
13. To what extent does the play refer to YOUTH AND OLD AGE? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Wasps, Clouds, Lysistrata, Ecclesiazusae
14. To what extent does the play refer to UTOPIA AND/OR THE IDEAL STATE? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Ecclesizusae, Peace, Birds, Wealth
15. To what extent does the play refer to WEALTH AND/OR POVERTY? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Wasps, Clouds, Wealth, Knights, Ecclesiazusae
16. To what extent does the play refer to WOMEN? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Thesmophoriazusae, Lysistrata, Ecclesiazusae
17. To what extent does the play refer to SCIENTISTS, SOPHISTS, AND/OR EDUCATION? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Clouds, Birds, Wealth
18. . To what extent does the play refer to LANGUAGE, SPEECH, AND/OR ORATORY? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Clouds, Frogs
19. To what extent does the play refer to CLEON? [What does the play say about them? How does it represent them? Why does it do so? What is the point?] Suggestions: Knights, Wasps, Peace
Wednesday May 05 12:30 -2:30 PMPapers due and presented to class.