Limping Philoctetes. Drawing from a Pompeiian wall painting. after 63 CE. Milani suggested that this is a late derivative from the statue described by Pliny NH 34.8, by Pythagoras of Rhegium of the mid-5th cent. Statue stood in Syracuse showing lamed Philoctetes.
Welcome to Greek Drama! This term we will read Sophocles' Philoctetes, and examine it from a number of angles.
The professor will provide three textbooks to the students:
Sophokles Philoktetes, Translation with notes, introduction and intepretive essay by Seth L. Schein (Focus Classical Library) 2003.
Sophocles: Plays. Philoctetes. R. C. Jebb, Introduction by Felix Budelmann (Bristol Classical Press) 2004 (originally 1898, Cambridge Univ. Press.
Sophocles Philoctetes Edited by T.B.L. Webster (Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics) 1970, 1994.
Jebb's classic commentary contains a translation, and Schein's modern translation contains much commentary. Webster's text has a useful commentary that should help with your grammar and translation. Please try to consult all three when preparing for class.
We will practice reading Greek aloud in every class, and we will practice translation. In addition, we will read secondary articles and book chapters, and share our learning with the class. You may look at some on-line articles listed here, and you may look at the bibliography listed in the Suggestions for Further Reading in the back of Schein's text (pages 123ff). Please choose five or six of these that you might like to read and report on.
Grades will be determined as follows:
Daily Participation: 25%
Reports to Class: 25%
Written Work: 25%
Examinations: 25%
We will have class MWF, from 2:30-3:20 PM. If bad weather occurs and the University is open, we will hold class, but students who feel endangered from the trip to class will not be penalized for missing class, and will have permission to make up missed work. If the professor has to cancel class, he will notify students by email or telephone, as much in advance as possible.
Daniel B. Levine
Professor, Classical Studies
University of Arkansas
Office Hours: MWF 10:30-11:20 and by appointment.
Kimpel Hall 502.
Telephone: 575-2951
Email: dlevine@uark.edu
Leave messages in mailbox in Kimpel Hall 425: Foreign Languages Office. Office hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM M-F.
Tentative Schedule, Weeks 1-3:
Week 1
Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. No class.
Wednesday, January 19. Introduction and Welcome.
Friday, January 21. Read Seth Schein's Introduction (pp. 18), Translation of Philoctetes (pp. 19-88), and Interpretive Essay (pp. 89-117). No class meeting.
Week 2
Monday, January 24. Meet to discuss Schein's ideas. Bring notes on the main points of Introduction and Essay. Be ready to present three main ideas from your readings. Read lines 1-25 in Greek.
Wednesday, January 26. Read Lines 26-53.
Friday, January 28: Write Summary of Schein's Introduction and Interpretive Essay. No class meeting. This will be due in class on Monday.
Week 3
Monday, January 31: Hand in Summary. Read lines 54-95. (TOGA MAN Presentations tonight)
Wednesday, February 02.: Read lines 96-134.
Friday, February 04: Read lines 135-158.