Theatrical Literature of Ancient Greece
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Learning goal of this course is to provide the students a comprehensive overview of the history of Greek theatre, with particular focus on the Attic theatre of 5th and 4th Century, through a selection of texts.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: students are expected to gain a good knowledge of the texts, of the playwrights, of the formal and structural development of Greek tragedy and Greek comedy, of the theatrical organisation and production (performances, dramatic festivals, audience).
Ability: students will be able to read the theatrical texts in Greek, to recognise their intertextual connections, to place them in their historical, literary and cultural contexts by analysing significant historical events and literary and cultural developments that influenced them, to use the most important bibliographic databases and the most useful tools of humanistic informatics.
Ability: students will be able to read the theatrical texts in Greek, to recognise their intertextual connections, to place them in their historical, literary and cultural contexts by analysing significant historical events and literary and cultural developments that influenced them, to use the most important bibliographic databases and the most useful tools of humanistic informatics.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course will focus on the following topics: Part A) Euripides' Cyclops in the contemporary translations and performances (20 hours, 3 ECTS); Part B) Aristophanes' Acharnians, with focus on the parody of Euripides' Telephus (20 hours, 3 ECTS); Part C) Menander's Epitrepontes, with focus on the recently published papyri, which allow a more complete reconstruction of the plot (20 hours, 3 ECTS). Non-attending students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss an alternative program.
Prerequisites for admission
A good knowledge of Greek is required (texts are read and discussed in Greek).
Teaching methods
Teaching activity will be in presence. The goal is to present and discuss the non-tragic genres of the Attic drama: in Part A the presence of the Cyclops (the only surviving satyr play) on the modern stage (with focus on same influential translations and performances); in Part B the interaction of comedy and tragedy in the Acharnians of Aristophanes, and the problem of translating an Attic comic play; in Part C a study of the complex dramaturgical mechanism of the Epitrepontes, which we can now better reconstruct thanks to new evidence. In Part C the teacher will read, translate and discuss a selection of lines of the comedy (about 500 lines); he will try to stimulate the interests of the students by asking questions, which they will answer either directly during the lesson or by posting their reactions in the Forum of the platform Ariel. Part A will be organised as a laboratory: students will be invited to translate passages of the Cyclops and, in turn, to discuss the translations presented by their classmates. In Part B the teacher will read, translate and discuss a selection of lines of the comedy (about 500 lines), giving particular emphasis to the paratragic element. On the platform Ariel the students will find useful preparation material for the exam: the Greek texts with Italian translation, lecture notes.
Teaching Resources
Storia del teatro attico: D. Susanetti, Il teatro dei Greci, Roma (Carocci) 2003; B. Zimmermann, La commedia greca. Dalle origini all'età ellenistica, Roma (Carocci) 2006; G. Zanetto, Miti di ieri, storie di oggi, Milano (Feltrinelli) 2020.
a) Euripide, Ciclope. Reso, a cura di G. Zanetto, Milano (Oscar Mondadori) 1998; Euripide, Ciclope, a cura di M. Napolitano, introduzione di L.E. Rossi, Venezia (Marsilio) 2003. Bibliografia (utile per approfondimenti): Eschilo, Sofocle, Euripide, Drammi satireschi, a cura di O. Pozzoli, Milano (BUR) 2004.
b) Aristofane, Acarnesi, introd., trad. e commento di D. Lanza, Roma (Carocci) 2012; G. Zanetto, Acarnesi di Aristofane, Roma (Carocci) 2024. Bibliografia (utile per approfondimenti): M. Giovannelli, Aristofane nostro contemporaneo. La commedia antica in scena oggi, Roma (Carocci) 2018; K.J. Dover, Aristophanic Comedy, Berkeley (University of California Press) 1972.
c) Menandro, Commedie, a cura di G. Paduano, Milano (Oscar Mondadori) 1980; Menandro, Il misantropo. L'arbitrato, a cura di R. Sevieri, Milano (La Vita Felice) 2020; Epitrepontes, ed. W. D. Furley, London (Institut for Classical Studies) 2009. Bibliografia (utile per approfondimenti): D. Del Corno, Euripidaristofanizein, scritti sul teatro greco, Napoli (D'Auria Editore) 2005.
a) Euripide, Ciclope. Reso, a cura di G. Zanetto, Milano (Oscar Mondadori) 1998; Euripide, Ciclope, a cura di M. Napolitano, introduzione di L.E. Rossi, Venezia (Marsilio) 2003. Bibliografia (utile per approfondimenti): Eschilo, Sofocle, Euripide, Drammi satireschi, a cura di O. Pozzoli, Milano (BUR) 2004.
b) Aristofane, Acarnesi, introd., trad. e commento di D. Lanza, Roma (Carocci) 2012; G. Zanetto, Acarnesi di Aristofane, Roma (Carocci) 2024. Bibliografia (utile per approfondimenti): M. Giovannelli, Aristofane nostro contemporaneo. La commedia antica in scena oggi, Roma (Carocci) 2018; K.J. Dover, Aristophanic Comedy, Berkeley (University of California Press) 1972.
c) Menandro, Commedie, a cura di G. Paduano, Milano (Oscar Mondadori) 1980; Menandro, Il misantropo. L'arbitrato, a cura di R. Sevieri, Milano (La Vita Felice) 2020; Epitrepontes, ed. W. D. Furley, London (Institut for Classical Studies) 2009. Bibliografia (utile per approfondimenti): D. Del Corno, Euripidaristofanizein, scritti sul teatro greco, Napoli (D'Auria Editore) 2005.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The quality of the learning outcomes is assessed with an oral exam at the end of the course. At the exam the students will be asked to read, translate and comment on some passages (chosen by the teacher) of the texts which have been discussed in class. The exam is intended to evaluate the quality of their knowledge (comprehension of Greek, precision in translating, command of the history of Attic theatre) and their ability in discussing problems through an appropriate use of categories and methodology of literary and theatrical interpretation. Evaluation criteria: linguistic skills account for 40% of the final grade; literary knowledge for 20%; discussion skills (information, precision, clarity) for 40%. Assessment is expressed in numerical marks out of thirty (from 0 to 30); a mark equal or higher than 18/30 means a sufficient attainment of the expected learning objectives; a mark lower than 18/30 means that the attainment of the learning targets is, at least partially, lacking; in this case students must repeat the exam, after improving their preparation (the teacher is of course available for suggestions and assistance). International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office
L-FIL-LET/02 - GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Zanetto Giuseppe
Professor(s)