Classics 342
Homer in Translation
Spring 2014
Tu/Th 11:00am-12:15pm
Modern Languages 413
Professor Alex Kennedy
Office: Learning Services Building 218
Office Hours: M/W 3:00-4:00pm and by appt.
Phone: 621-7420
Email: arkennedy@email.arizona.edu
TA: Michael Spanne
Office: Learning Services Building 203
Office Hours: M 10:30am-12:30pm
Email: maspanne@email.arizona.edu
Course Description:
This course introduces the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer. We will read all of Homer’s
two epic poems, the Iliad and Odyssey, in English. The first half of the course will focus on the
Iliad, and the second half will focus on the Odyssey. In the last two weeks of the course, we will
read selections from three other ancient epics as a way of examining Homer’s place within the
epic tradition as a whole. Class meetings will focus on discussion of the themes of the works as
well as their literary and historical context.
Required Texts:
R. Lattimore, trans., The Iliad of Homer, 2011
R. Lattimore, trans., The Odyssey of Homer, 2007
Additional readings will be given as handouts or as PDF files posted on D2L.
Grading:
Attendance and Participation
Class Presentation
Quizzes
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Papers
10%
5%
10%
20%
25%
30% (15% each)
Attendance and Absence Policies:
Attendance and participation in class are required. We will discuss important themes and ideas
from the texts in class, so it is important that you attend. Be aware that if you miss class or come
to class late, it is your sole responsibility to find out what you missed. All holidays or special
events observed by organized religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation
with that particular religion. Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean’s
designee) will also be honored.
Class Presentation:
Each student will be expected to give a brief presentation (3-5 minutes) to the class on a short
passage (approximately 10 lines) of his/her choosing from the reading. The presentation should
briefly explain the context of the chosen passage, i.e. what is happening at that moment in the
text, and then discuss how this passage relates to a key theme (or themes) in the text. Each
presentation will be due on the day we are scheduled to cover that portion of the text in class.
Quizzes:
There will be a short quiz every day that we have class, except for the first two class meetings
and the day of the midterm. Each quiz will include four short-answer questions based on that
day’s reading assignment. Although there will be a total of 27 of these quizzes, your final quiz
score will only be calculated out of 100 points, which means you basically get 8 free points.
There will be no makeup quizzes. If you miss a quiz (or two), you will merely lose some of
your free points. Any additional missed quizzes will count as a zero. Quizzes will take place at
the beginning of class.
Exams:
There will be a midterm and final exam. Both exams will include identification or discussion of
terms, themes, and/or passages from the readings. The final exam will also include an essay.
Only the essay portion of the final exam will be cumulative. Makeup exams will only be allowed
in cases of illness or family emergency and must be requested in advance.
Papers:
Two 4-5 page papers will be required. One will draw on the readings from the Iliad, and the
other on the readings from the Odyssey or a combination of both works. More details about paper
topics and requirements will be distributed later.
Expectations:
Students are expected to come to class with the assigned readings completed. Our class meetings
will primarily consist of discussion of the readings, and you are expected to contribute to this
discussion.
In class, please be respectful of others (for the UA policies regarding threatening behavior by
students, see http://policy.web.arizona.edu/threatening-behavior-students). Come to class on
time, turn off and put away cell phones and other electronic devices, and refrain from behavior
that is distracting to the instructor or other students. The use of laptop computers will not be
allowed in class.
Academic Integrity:
You are responsible for completing your own work in accordance with the UA Code of
Academic Integrity (see http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity). Cheating on
quizzes and exams or plagiarizing papers will result in an automatic failing grade for the course
and disciplinary action.
Accessibility and Accommodations:
It is the University’s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate
or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please let me know immediately
so that we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact Disability Resources (520-6213268) to establish reasonable accommodations. Please be aware that the accessible table and
chairs in this room should remain available for students who find that standard classroom seating
is not usable.
Tentative Reading and Exam Schedule:
Week 1
Thurs, Jan 16 Introduction (no reading
assignment)
Week 2
Tues, Jan 21 Iliad Introduction, pp. 1-53
Thurs, Jan 23 Iliad Books 1-2
Week 3
Tues, Jan 28 Iliad Books 3-4
Thurs, Jan 30 Iliad Books 5-6
Week 4
Tues, Feb 4 Iliad Books 7-8
Thurs, Feb 6 Iliad Books 9-10
Week 5
Tues, Feb 11 Iliad Books 11-12
Thurs, Feb 13 Iliad Books 13-14
Week 6
Tues, Feb 18 Iliad Books 15-16
Thurs, Feb 20 Iliad Books 17-18
Week 7
Tues, Feb 25 Iliad Books 19-20
Thurs, Feb 27 Iliad Books 21-22
Week 8
Tues, Mar 4 Iliad Books 23-24
Thurs, Mar 6 Midterm
Week 9
Tues, Mar 11 Odyssey Books 1-2
Thurs, Mar 13 Odyssey Books 3-4
Paper 1 Due
Spring Break (March 17-21)
Week 10
Tues, Mar 25 Odyssey Books 5-6
Thurs, Mar 27 Odyssey Books 7-8
Week 11
Tues, Apr 1 Odyssey Books 9-10
Thurs, Apr 3 Odyssey Books 11-12
Week 12
Tues, Apr 8 Odyssey Books 13-14
Thurs, Apr 10 Odyssey Books 15-16
Week 13
Tues, Apr 15 Odyssey Books 17-18
Thurs, Apr 17 Odyssey Books 19-20
Week 14
Tues, Apr 22 Odyssey Books 21-22
Thurs, Apr 24 Odyssey Books 23-24
Week 15
Tues, Apr 29 Apollonius (D2L)
Paper 2 Due
Thurs, May 1 Vergil (D2L)
Week 16
Tues, May 6 Lucan (D2L)
Final Exam: Thursday, May 15, 10:30am-12:30pm
Information contained in the course syllabus, other than the grade and absence policies, may be
subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.