This course first introduces Greek drama to explore the theatre of ancient Greece. After discussing Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Euripides’ Medea, we enter the world of Greek philosophy by reading Aristotle’s Poetics. Then we read Ovid’s Metamorphoses to explore how the Romans reshaped Greek mythology. The second part of this course focuses on Christianity, and we will discuss the New Testament Gospels and Augustine’s Confessions. The final part of the course leads us into the world of the Middle Ages. By reading Marie de France’s Lais, we get to know medieval chivalry. Finally, this course ends with Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy and Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron to see how Dante created a great medieval work by combining great literary traditions before him and how Boccaccio depicted medieval Italy in the dawn of the Renaissance. Each of these works will be read closely, analyzed carefully, and discussed with its cultural and historical context. We will proceed mainly in two forms: lectures and small group discussions. Every week, students need to finish reading materials and post responses on the course website’s forum. Students also need to watch videos after class, if necessary. At the beginning of each class, we will have a 10-minute quiz. Finally, students must make a short oral group presentation (no more than 10 minutes) in class.

There are three joint-lecture classes this semester, taught by each of the three teachers of this course. The dates are week 7 (by Prof. Edward Eugene Nolan), week 12 (by Prof. Laurent Cases), and week 13 (by Sophia Yashih Liu). Readings will be assigned and/or provided later.

***If you wish to get an authorization code, please come to the first class directly. No need to write an email for permission.***