RLS011 Classical Greek Literature: From Homer to Euripides

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Irena Radová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Providers of Specific teaching support
Mgr. Marek Lang, Ph.D. (zapisovatel)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Irena Radová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 8:00–9:40 A21, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11.
Prerequisites
! RLS011 Classical Greek Literature I
No special requirements for enetring the course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 16 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course aims at introduction into the Greek literature of the Archaic period and into the poetry of the Classical Period (in accordance with the standard periodization).
Learning outcomes
After the completion of the course the students:
- can describe the development of the Greek literature in the periods in question together with the historical context;
- can characterize relevant genres of Greek prose and poetry in the periods in question and describe their particularities;
- can name the prominent figures of the genres in question and characterize their works;
- are also informed about the relevant secondary literature.
Syllabus
  • 1. Periodization of the Ancient Greek literature; secondary literature;
  • 2.–3. The poetry of the Archaic Period: Homer.
  • 4. The poetry of the Archaic Period: Hesiod.
  • 5. The poetry of the Archaic Period: elegiac poets; iambic poetry.
  • 6. The poetry of the Archaic Period: Alcaeus; Sappho; Anacreon.
  • 7. The poetry of the Archaic Period: choric lyric poets.
  • 8. The prose of the Archaic Period: beginning of the Greek historiography.
  • 9. The poetry of the Classical Period: origins of tragedy.
  • 10. The poetry of the Classical Period: Aeschylus.
  • 11. The poetry of the Classical Period: Sophocles.
  • 12. The poetry of the Classical Period: Euripides.
  • 13. The poetry of the Classical Period: origins of comedy; Aristophanes.
Literature
    required literature
  • HOMÉROS. Ílias. Translated by Otmar Vaňorný. 12. vyd. Praha: Petr Rezek, 2007, 598 s. ISBN 8086027252. info
  • HOMÉROS. Odysseia. Translated by Otmar Vaňorný. 16. vyd. Praha: Petr Rezek, 2007, 451 s. ISBN 8086027260. info
  • HÉSIODOS. Zpěvy železného věku (Zrození bohů, Práce a dny, Štít, Soutěž Homéra a Hésioda). Přeložila Julie Nováková. Praha: Svoboda, 1990. Prémie Antické knihovny. ISBN 80-205-0127-4. info
  • Řecká lyrika. Translated by Ferdinand Stiebitz. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní nakladatelství krásné literatury, hudby a umění, 1954, 356 s. URL info
  • Oresteia : tragická trilogie. Edited by Valeria Sochorovská, Translated by Václav Renč. V Praze: DILIA, 1969, 144 s. info
  • SOFOKLÉS. Tragédie. Translated by Ferdinand Stiebitz - Rudolf Mertlík - Radislav Hošek. První souborné vydání. Praha: Svoboda, 1975, 623 stran. URL info
  • EURIPIDÉS. Médeia. Translated by Ferdinand Stiebitz. V nakladatelství Artur vyd. Praha: Artur, 2010, 67 stran. ISBN 9788087128374. URL info
    recommended literature
  • The Cambridge History of Classical Literature. General ed. Patricia E. Easterling. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982. info
  • Handbuch der griechischen Literatur der Antike. Edited by Bernhard Zimmermann - Antōnios Renkakos. München: C.H. Beck, 2014, xxxiv, 112. ISBN 9783406618185. info
  • BARTOŇKOVÁ, Dagmar. L. Canfora, Dějiny řecké literatury. přeložil kolektiv autorů pod vedením D. Bartoňkové (přeložila cca 300 stran). Praha: Koniasch Latin Press, 2001, 893 pp. info
  • LESKY, A. Geschichte der griechischen Literatur. Bern, 1971. info
  • SCHMID, Wilhelm and Otto STÄHLIN. Geschichte der griechischen Literatur. München: Beck, 1961. info
  • DEL CORNO, D. Letteratura greca. Milano, 1988. info
  • STIEBITZ, Ferdinand. Stručné dějiny řecké literatury. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1967, 247 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures 1½ hours per week. Homework: reading discussed texts. E-learning.
Assessment methods
Final assessment will be awarded based on:
1. Successful completion of a written test. The test will cover the material discussed in class as well as questions from compulsory reading (a list of texts is included in the course bibliography and further specified in the “Instructor’s Note”). The minimum required success rate is 60% (total possible points: 30; at least 18 points must be achieved).
2. Submission of an essay (3 standard pages) analyzing a selected work from Ancient Greek literature.
The essay should follow a standard academic structure, including an introduction and conclusion. The introduction should justify the choice of the work. The main body should include a brief summary of the content, genre classification, and identification of specific genre features. At least one argument must be supported by a quotation from the work, properly cited. The conclusion should evaluate the work and its significance. As a bonus, the essay may reference the later reception of the work. A complete bibliographic reference for all sources used is required. At least one relevant secondary source must be used. The essay must be written in formal, academic language. It should be submitted via email to the instructor (radova@phil.muni.cz) during the exam period, no later than one week before it ends.
Feedback on the essay will be provided automatically by the instructor via email in the form of comments. Feedback on the test will be provided upon student request.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Study support
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/24-25/course/view.php?id=272
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2024.
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