GRST 226 - Intermediate Greek: Topics in Greek Literature

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

(Same as GRST 321) Topic for 2016/17b: Plato on Poetry. Students in this course examine, in ancient Greek, the philosopher Plato’s highly influential discussions of poetry in his Ion, Republic, and other texts. Of central interest is the tension in Plato’s writings between a view of poetry as a warped, even deceptive, representation of reality and his apparent admiration for the poet’s divinely-inspired powers. Questions to be addressed include the role of imaginative literature in society and what justification there may be for censorship of literature. In addition to becoming familiar with Plato’s contribution to the history of poetics, his Greek style, and the reception of his ideas about literature, students are invited to consider contemporary “fiction” (whether textual or in other media) in light of Plato’s discussion. Curtis Dozier.

This course should be elected by students before electing any advanced Greek course in the department.

Students enrolled in GRST 226 have an extra hour of grammar review and students enrolled in GRST 321 have longer Greek assignments.

Two 75-minute periods.