This is the second in a two-part survey course that aims to introduce students to the Hebrew, Greek, Roman, and medieval literature, and their reception by later authors in what is called the Western tradition. This course focuses on Greek, Roman, and medieval literature. We will examine the way in which these cultures, just like modern ones, used stories to understand humans’ relationship with the divine, justice, the social world, and cultural differences, among other topics. My lecture will focus on giving students a basic understanding of the ancient cultures and literary traditions that produced these works. I aim to present these texts not as works to be thoughtlessly admired but rather as complicated works of art that demand attentive analysis. Ample time for class discussions and writing will allow students to enter conversations with the ancient and medieval worlds.

Students will practice the identification of key themes in literary works, understanding their social and historical context, and their connection to key aspects of society such as religion and gender. We will also discuss some issues of interpretation particularly relevant to ancient and medieval literature. Students will get a sense of the deep connections between Greek and Roman literature and ancient and modern literature more broadly.