Classics 160D2: Topics in Culture and Civilization, Classical Mythology

Fall 2016
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hrs.:
Phone:
E-mail:

Michael Teske
Learning Services Building (LSB) at 1st/Vine, Room 211
2:003:30 p.m. T and 3:30-5:00 p.m. F (and by appointment)
621-2315
Classics Department: 621-1689
mteske@u.arizona.edu

GTAs:

Amber Kearns, LSB 203 (grad. pods)/ Off. Hrs. 9-10 a.m. M; 9:30-10:30 a.m. Th
akearns1@email.arizona.edu
Elizabeth Keyser, LSB 203 (pods)/ Off. Hrs. 12-1 p.m. MW
ekeyser@email.arizona.edu

Texts:

Morford and Lenardon, Classical Mythology (8th, 9th, or 10th editions)

Ovid, Metamorphoses (Penguin series, trans. by Mary Innes)
Euripides, Ten Plays, trans. by M. Hadas (Bacchants, Medea, and Alcestis only)
Homer, The Odyssey, translated by W.H.D. Rouse, Signet Classic
Additional readings and relevant handouts will be posted on D2L.
Morford website to complement text: www.oup.com/us/morford

Course Description:
This course will survey Greek and Roman mythology (through
classical literature) with a look at the origins of the universe, the gods, and mankind. It will
also examine ways of interpreting myths, and explore the interface between mythology and
religion/ritual. The hero myths and the Trojan War saga will further illustrate mans relation
to the gods, notions of human virtue and wickedness, and tensions between destiny and free will.
In addition, some artistic depictions of myths (both ancient/ Renaissance ones) will be analyzed.
Exams/Papers: There will be 4 quizzes, a midterm, and a final exam (with all involving
written identifications of key mythological terms/concepts/characters, and the exams having
short essay questions over critical themes/patterns). Also, there will be an initial 2-page
assignment which will be handed back with comments for revision and resubmission of a final
draft, and a longer 5-6 page paper (paper topics and parameters to be distributed later). The
course grade will consist of the quizzes (30%) -- the lowest quiz will be automatically dropped,
the midterm (20%), the final (20%), the papers (20% overall with 12.5% for the 5-6 page paper,
and 7.5% for the 2 page assignment with revision), and attendance/participation (10%).
Make-ups for quizzes or exams will only be given in documented cases of medical/family
emergency, or at the instructors discretion.
Attendance: Much of the material covered in this course will only be directly addressed
in lecture/class discussion. As a result, more than 6 absences will be considered
excessive and may result in an overall zero participation/ attendance grade. An attendance
sheet will be circulated beginning the 2nd week. It is the students responsibility to be sure that

he/she has signed the sheet before leaving class. Note that cell phone interruptions/text
messaging in class will not be tolerated! In addition, students are reminded that laptops or
other devices
are only to be used in class for class-related activities. Please be courteous at all times to your
instructor and classmates by not arriving late to class, or leaving early (both behaviors can be
disruptive, especially in a class this size). Also, please use the bathroom before class so as to
minimize the need for exiting and re-entering this room.
Schedule (approximate only)
Aug. 22-26

Introduction/ Course Policy/ Defining Myth/ Ways of Interpreting Myths

(Morford, chp. 1)

Aug. 29-S.2

Early Greek History (Morford, chp. 2)/ Creation Myths/ Rise of Zeus/
Kingship in Heaven Pattern (Morf., chp. 3)

Sept.

Labor Day Holiday No Class!

Sept. 7-9

Prometheus and the creation of man/ Ages of Man/ The Great Flood
and its analogs (Morf., chp. 4)

Sept. 12-16

Marriage and Death myths as archetypal: Orpheus, Alcestis, Pyramus and Thisbe,
etc. (linked to 1st 2-page writing assignment to be given out Sept. 16)/
Zeus features and areas of patronage (Morf., chp.5)/ Quiz #1: Sept. 16

Sept. 19-23

Zeus and Hera and offspring/ begin Water Divinities (Morf., chp. 7)

Sept. 26-30

Poseidon/ warrior goddess Athena (Morf., chp. 8)/ Writing Assign. Due Sept. 30

Oct.

Aphrodite as goddess of love/ Cupid and Psyche myth as allegory (Morf., chp. 9)

3-7

Oct. 10-14

Artemis as virginal huntress (Morf., chp. 10)/ Quiz #2: Oct. 14

2-page assignment returned with comments this week

Oct. 17-21

Apollo and the Delphic oracle (Morf., chp. 11)/ Trickster Hermes (M., chp. 12)
Final draft of 2-page paper (with revisions) Due Oct. 21

Oct. 24-28

Dionysus as god of wine/intoxication (Morf., chp. 13) and Euripides Bacchants

Midterm Exam: Oct. 28

Oct. 31-N.4

Demeter (M., chp. 14), and the Afterlife (M., chp. 15): Homer, Odyssey, Book 11,
and Vergil, Aeneid, Book 6/ Main Paper Topic Given Out (Due Dec. 7)

Nov. 7-9

The Hero Myths starting with Jason and the Argonauts (and his quest for the
golden fleece) (M., chp. 24)/ Euripides Medea

Nov. 11
Nov. 14-18

Veterans Day Holiday No Class!

Perseus and slaying of Gorgon (M., chp. 21)/ Theseus and Minotaur (M., chp. 23)
Quiz #3: Nov. 14

Nov. 21-23

Heracles and his 12 labors (M., chp. 22)

Nov. 24-27

Thanksgiving Holiday No Class!

Nov. 28-D.2 Heracles concluded/ Trojan War Saga (M., chp. 19)/ Quiz #4: Dec. 2
Dec. 5-7

Odysseus adventures on journey back to Ithaca after Sack of Troy/

Homer, Odyssey, Books 9-12/ Folktale Motifs/ 5-6 page paper due Dec. 7

Dec. 14 (Wed.)

FINAL EXAM at 1:00-3:00 p.m. (in this room)

Additional Course Info:

In accordance with Gen. Ed. criteria, a minimum of 10 pages of written work will be
required during the semester; in this course, the main paper will be at least 1250 words,
approximately 5-6 double-spaced pages.
Writing assignments will be integrated in the course through various means, with written
papers, quizzes and examinations (including detailed written identifications of key
mythological terms, characters, and themes, and short essay responses). The paper
assignments will entail critical inquiry and the honing of skills of gathering, interpreting,
and evaluating information appropriate to the field of mythology. The writing process will
involve focusing ideas, drafting, revising, reading critically, and researching with outside
sources. These assignments will be evaluated for format, organization, style, grammar,
and punctuation, as well as for their scholarly content.
The first writing assignment will involve a revision process in which students receive
instructor and/or graduate assistant feedback on a first draft and make substantive
revisions before submitting a subsequent draft for final grading.
U of A writing resources include the Writing Skills Improvement Program (WSIP) which
offers a number of services to undergraduate students who wish to improve their writing skills
http://wsip.arizona.edu and the Writing Center which offers free peer tutoring to all members of
the U of A community http://thinktank.arizona.edu/tutoring/writing
Majoring and Minoring in Classics and Religious Studies
The University of Arizonas interdisciplinary Department of Religious Studies and Classics
offers a major (B.A.) in Classics and a major (B.A.) in Religious Studies, as well as minors in
Classics and Religious Studies. For more information on the Classics major and minor, see

http://classics.arizona.edu. For more information on the Religious Studies major and minor, see
http://religion.arizona.edu.