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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CL 268"
COURSE NAME: "Literature and Society in Ancient Greece"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2026
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
John Daniel Muccigrosso
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above *This class can substitute for one of the two EN LIT general distribution required courses. The other EN LIT course must have the EN prefix*
OFFICE HOURS:
TR 14:00-15:00
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces students to the civilization of the ancient Greeks through an in-depth study of ancient Greek literature and society from the eighth century B.C.E. through the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.E. Topics studied include the role of religion and myth in ancient Greece, politics and warfare, the status of women, the importance of athletics and other subjects pertaining to the ancient Greek World. Readings in translation include selected works of Hesiod, Homer, Pindar, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato and Plutarch.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course introduces students to the civilization of the ancient Greeks through an in-depth study of ancient Greek literature and society from the eighth century B.C.E. through the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.E. Topics studied include the role of religion and myth in ancient Greece, politics and warfare, the status of women, the importance of athletics and other subjects pertaining to the ancient Greek World. Readings in translation include selected works of Hesiod, Homer, Pindar, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato and Plutarch.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the termination of the course:
Students will have read and studied the most significant and influential literary texts
which raise questions and primarily the question: what is it to be human?
Students will have followed the developments of literacy to some of its highest
exemplars.
Students will be introduced to a range of literary genres: epic, lyric, dramatic,
historical and philosophic.
Students will have exercised and improved writing and oral skills as well as
vocabulary and stylistics.
Students will be motivated to read other texts in Greek literature, history,
and philosophy in the future.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Oxford Classical Dictionary | (various) | Oxford U. Press | 9780199545568 | | This is on-line at: https://www-oxfordreference- com.jcu.idm.oclc.org/display/10.1093/acref/9780199545568.001.0001/acref- 9780199545568 |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Mid-Term exam | In-class written exam at the half-way point in the semester. | 20 |
| Presentation 2 | A second oral presentations incorporating feedback from the first, and on a topic chosen beforehand. | 10 |
| Presentation 1 | In-class presentation of a topic chosen in advance following guidelines posted to the class Moodle. | 10 |
| Final exam | Final written exam administered during finals period. | 20 |
| Quizzes | Short in-class written quizzes on announced topics. | 15 |
| Participation | In-class participation as determined by preparation (including homework), contribution to discussion, presentation feedback for peers, other in-class activities. | 25 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Wk
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Day
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Topic
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Assignments
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1
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T
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Introduction to the course
Introduction to ancient Greece
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R
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2
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T
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The Beginnings: Hesiod
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Introduction to Hesiod (Gregory Nagy)
Theogony ("Birth of the Gods") (at Perseus website)
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R
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Works and Days (at Perseus website)
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3
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T
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The Beginnings: Homer and Epic
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The Iliad (selections)
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R
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The Iliad (more selections)
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4
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T
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Lyric Poetry I: Getting personal
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Theognis (fragments)
Archilochus (fragments)
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R
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Sappho (fragments)
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5
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T
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Lyric Poetry II: Competition and the Individual
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Pindar
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R
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Pindar again
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6
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T
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Philosophy I: The Pre-Socratics & Socrates
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The Pre-Socratics (so-called) I
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R
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The Pre-Socratics II
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7
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T
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Philosophy II: The End of Socrates
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Plato’s version of Socrates’ Apology (Defense)
Gorgias’ Encomium of Helen
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R
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Mid-Term Exam
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SPRING BREAK
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8
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T
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Philosophy III: The Legacy of Socrates
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Socrates continued
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R
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Dialogues of Plato
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9
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T
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Drama at Athens I: Tragedy
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Sophocles’ Antigone
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R
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Antigone continued
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10
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T
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Drama at Athens II: Comedy
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Aristophanes’ Lysistrata
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R
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Lysistrata continued
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11
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T
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Prose!: The Historians
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Herodotus
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R
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Thucydides'Peloponnesian War
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12
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T
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Back to Poetry!: The Alexandrians
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Callimachus’ Aetia and epigrams
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R
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Theocritus’ Idylls
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13
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T
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What did the Romans ever do for us?
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Polybius’ Histories
Dionysius of Halicarnassus'Universal History
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14
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T
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Hellenism & Beyond: Christianity, etc.
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Acts of the Apostles; St. Basil
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R
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Revelation
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