Ancient Epic and Tragedy

Study of the literary, philosophical, and political themes that are explored in the Iliad of Homer and in the tragic plays of Homer’s intellectual heirs, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides of classical Athens. Topics discussed include: the conception of gods and mortals; traditional heroic values such as honor and glory; fate and human free choice; the human pursuit of knowledge and technology; the autonomy of the individual versus the demands of society; a critique of classical Athens as an imperial power; and the representation of women in epic and tragedy

009513