units

ATS2084

Faculty of Arts

18 September 2017 25 April 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

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LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
Organisational UnitArchaeology and Ancient History
OfferedNot offered in 2013
Coordinator(s)Dr Evangelina Anagnostou-Laoutides

Synopsis

This unit examines the nature of myth through the myths of Greece and Rome. It explores the way in which myths are adapted to reflect particular societies, ages and cultural forms. We will investigate myths of creation, gods, heroes and monsters in Greek and Roman epic and drama (Homer, Hesiod, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Vergil, Ovid, Seneca). Near Eastern parallels such as the Epic of Gilgamesh will be also examined. In addition, we shall explore the theoretical tools of studying myth including the ritual school, functionalism, post-structuralism and phenomenology. All texts will be studied in translation.

Outcomes

  1. Become familiar with the myths of the Greeks and the Romans
  2. Study the literary genres in which myths they were written and their conventions
  3. Study the theoretical approaches to mythology and their application in Classical Studies
  4. Examine the reception of Classical myth and its literary tradition within antiquity
  5. Examine the reception of Classical myth in the discipline of classical studies
  6. Study the socio-political aspects of using myths
  7. Develop critical thinking and particular research skills to investigate the primary and secondary sources with regard to the above.

Assessment

Literature Review(1000 words): 20%
Essay(2500 words): 35%
2 x Class tests(equivalent 1000 words): 35%
Tutorial participation: 10%

Contact hours

One x 90 minute lecture and one x 1 hour tutorial per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Classical studies