Classical Mythology S17 (CLAS*2000)

Course Description

An examination of the nature and function of myth in Classical Antiquity. The course shows how the narrative and symbolic structure of myths orders individual and communal experience. The myths that have influenced Western civilization receive special emphasis.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the learner should be able to

• Connect specific myths to the cultures that produced them.
• Identify the histories, and functions of the gods and heroes of classical myth.
• Identify the literary and the visual iconography of major gods, heroes, and legends of classical myth.
• Recognize the essentially oral nature of mythology.
• Examine the ways in which morality deconstructs the idea of absolute interpretation or objective reading.
• Identify theways in which collection, transcription, and scholarship constantly reinterpret an oral tradition for new generations.
• Examine the ways in which variant versions of a story focus attention on the invariant elements.
• Explore a variety of scholarly approaches to mythology in discussion and writing.
• Develop an appreciation for the range and diversity of mythology and folklore.
• Identify recurring mythological themes and motifs.
• Recognize the role of myth in the arts.

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