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LLT 121.1 Classical Mythology – Fall, 2007                                                             9:30 TTH; 329 Craig Hall

Instructor: J. A. Johnson                                                                                              Office: 382 Craig

Office Phone: 836-5122                                                                    Office Hours: 8-9:30, 1:45-2:15 TTH,  382 Craig

E-mail: JulieJohnson@missouristate.edu                                 8-9:00 Sat, 204 Strong Hall and by appointment                                         

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                 
Texts:
  Ovid, Metamorphoses, translated by Rolfe Humphries (Indiana U. Press)    

            Homer, Odyssey, translated by W.H.D. Rouse (Signet Classic)

                  Plus various handouts                    

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

Films: Clash of the Titans, Jason and the Argonauts, Black Orpheus, O Brother, Where Art Thou, Midsummer Night’s Dream

 

Schedule Test Study Guide
Syllabus Presentation Grade Form

 

Tentative Schedule
(Consult online course page regularly for any adjustments to the schedule)

 

Date                                 Class                                                              Reading Assignments

 

Wk 1          Greetings & Overview   Classical Mythology                       Ovid – pp 3-27

(Aug 21/23) Ovid & Homer; Cosmogonies                                            (Creation – Jove & Io)        
    Greek Creation      Olympians - Children of Cronus/Saturn    Olympians - Children of Zeus    Hesiod's Ages of Man                           

 

Wk 2   Man vs. Gods – nature of the beast                                               Ovid – pp 28-54

(Aug 28/30) Theories of Myth – as primitive science                        (Phaethon – Goddess Envy)      

            Ovid - 1                          Ovid - 2                                                              

 

Wk 3   Theories of Myth – religious explanations                                    Ovid – pp 54-80

(Sep 4/6)  Ovid - 3               Ovid - 3.2                                                  (Europa – Pentheus & Bacchus)  

 

Wk 4  Myth as inspiration     Ovid - 4                                                          Ovid – pp 81-100

(Sep 11/13) Midsummer Night’s Dream                                 (Daughters of Minyas – End of Cadmus)

 

Wk 5     18th - Test 1   Ovid - 5                                                                      Ovid – pp 100-133

(Sep 18/20) 20th – Film: Clash of the Titans                                       (Perseus – Minerva’s tales)                                                                                         

 

Wk 6  Moral Compasses – cultural values/gender roles                          Ovid – pp 133 - 152
(Sep 25/27) Theory revisited – Ceres & Proserpina                       (Niobe – Tereus, Procne, Philomela)
                           Ovid - 6

 

Wk 7 Theories of myth – historical                                                          Ovid – pp 153 - 180

(Oct 2/4) Film: Jason and the Argonauts                                       (Jason & Medea – Cephalus & Procris)

                           Ovid - 7
 

Wk 8  Mythic dysfunctional families                                                        Ovid – pp 181 -- 198
(Oct 9/11) Pattern to Heroes                                                           (Nisus & Scylla – Brand of Meleager)
                          Ovid - 8

 

Wk 9   16th – Test 2                                                                                  Ovid – pp 200-237            

(Oct 16)   Further heroes...and one or two good examples         (Baucis & Philemon – Orpheus & Eurydice)
        Ovid - 9a    Ovid - 9b 

 

                      ---------------Fall Break-----------------                  

 

Wk 10  Film: Black Orpheus                                                                     Ovid – pp 239 - 261                                          

(Oct 23/25)  Adaptation of myth                                                         (Ganymede – death of Orpheus)
         Ovid - 10
 

                                    [ Deadline for no-penalty drops.]


 
Wk 11    Backstory of Troy                                                                        Odyssey, Books 1-4

(Oct 30/Nov 1)   Trojan War  Trojan War cont.

                    -Books 1-4

Wk 12       Odyssey, 1-4                                                                                 Odyssey, Books 5-8

(Nov 6/8) Odysseus at last!!   Books 5-8

           6th-Timberlee, Jason
           8th- Nicole, Jonathan
 

Wk 13  Sagas & Songs: Faraway Places with                                              Odyssey, Books 9-12

(Nov 13/15)  strange-sounding names...     Books 9-12
           13th-Test 3        
           15th-Katie, Jonathan, Samantha, Heidi, Jeremy, Samantha

 

Wk 14  Home at last! (cf. homecoming vets)                                               Odyssey, Books 13-16

(Nov 20)  20th- Laura, Claire, Dezmond, Katie    Books 13-16
                            ----------------------Thanksgiving Break------------------

Wk 15  27th-Rob, Jennifer, Kyle, Brandon                                                Odyssey, Books 17-20

(Nov 27/29)   29th  - Test 4

 

Wk 16  What now? (cf. Tennyson & Brooke)                                               Odyssey, Books 21-24

 (Dec 4/6) 4th- Jesse, Joel , Cody, Stevenie  Books 17-20
                  6th- Eryn, Nia, Lindsey, Blake    Books 21-24

                                                            Final – 8:35, Tuesday, Dec 11th

                                              

 

                                                                                        Syllabus

 

Course: LLT 121 is an introduction to the principal tales of ancient Greece, particularly those which form the mythic heritage of Greece and Rome and which now serve as the common tradition and cultural legacy of the west and, in particular, as the store of symbols and icons from which we draw in expressing values and communicating interests.

Course Objectives:

Class:  Class time will be spent in a combination of lecture, discussion, films, and student activities.  You are responsible for reading and pondering assigned material in advance of the class in which it will be covered, for attending promptly and cheerfully, and for chewing over the material in class with gusto and thoughtfulness.  To prime our conversational pumps, you should always come to class with at least two questions prepared in writing on each day’s topic. [These may be collected on occasion, so make them good.]

Testing: There will be 4 tests and a final exam during the term.  The tests will total 100 points; the final exam, 50 points.  All exams will cover the information from our primary sources (who, what, where, and when of myth), class handouts, lectures, graphic representations, discussions, activities, and whatever else is pertinent.  

Study guides for all tests and for the final will be available by link to the online course page.

  Presentation: Each student will identify a contemporary use of ancient myth—whether in art, politics, marketing, etc—and will present his/her finding, along with an explication of the underlying myth and an analysis of how the myth is used.  (E.g. Mercury and FTD Florists).

  The presentations should be 10 minutes in length and may include use of online or video materials.  They will be graded on clarity, interest, and accuracy, and may be done at any time during the term but should be completed before Week 15.  You should apprise your instructor (me) one week in advance of the date on which you wish to present.

Participation: Participation will be graded based on faithful attendance and lively engagement as shown by discussion, raising questions, comments, and general sharing in the work of the class.  This is your class, and its level of interest depends upon the contributions of each and every students. Excessive absences will certainly impair your ability to perform on tests.  If you should miss class, it is your responsibility alone to acquire notes and information from other students. (Do feel free, however, to e-mail me at any time with questions about the material or about assignments.)

Notate Bene: There will be no make-ups on tests without my permission prior to the day in question.  Medical absences should be verified by a physician’s note.  However, in the case of a natural disaster (e.g., blizzard, ice storm, flood, and plague of locusts) we shall adjust the schedule as appropriate.  Risk neither life nor limbs.  In the event of inclement weather, if you suspect the roads are impassible, you should check the course page to see whether class has been cancelled or call Mrs. Burlison, MCL Executive Secretary, at 836-5122. 

There will be absolutely no fudging on the official date and time of the final exam.   Do not ask.  A necessary (but not sufficient) requirement for any change of an individual’s final schedule is the written permission of that student’s college dean.

Grading: At the end of term, the point total for the tests and final will be added (along with any possible bonus points) and a grade will be assigned on the basis of the percentage achieved out of the total possible points according to the following scale: 100-90% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; 0-59% = F.

The approximate percentage breakdown of the course work is as follows:      
                
                                            4 tests = 100 points or 50%
                                   Presentation =  25 points or 12.5%
                                               Final =  50 points or 25 %                                                                                                                       
                                  Participation =  25 points or 12.5%

Procedures for Grade Inquiries: If you have any questions about test, written work, or final course grading, please see me first. If you have further questions, I shall refer you to Professor Madeleine Kernen, Department Head, Modern & Classical Languages.

Some of you (e.g., athletes, pledges, scholarship recipients, etc.) may require regular feedback on your grade.  If so, please apprise me early in the term and check with me often.  If  you wish a ‘snapshot’ estimate of your grade at any time, just email your request.

  Courtesies: Late arrivals to and early departures from class are both rude and disruptive.  Inclement weather aside, such comings and goings will not be tolerated.  If special circumstances pertain (e.g., a 8:00 or 11:00 in the Professional Building), please let me know at the start of term. 

  Integrity: I presume at the outset that everyone is of the highest moral character and probity. However, in a case of suspected cheating or plagiarism (‘Plagiarism’ means the theft of intellectual property, stealing the ideas or words of another and passing them off as one’s own.), I shall return the exam without a grade, and the student must see me immediately. If good faith has been restored, a grade will be given. In the case of unquestioned dishonesty, the test or written material will be given an automatic zero; and the student must still see me immediately. In the latter instance, the student will be counseled to drop the course and the Academic Integrity Council may be notified.

Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity.  You are responsible for knowing and following our student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at http://www.missouristate.edu/acadaff/AcademicIntegrity.html and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty may be subject to sanctions as described in this policy. 

Accommodations: To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact Katheryne Staeger-Wilson, Director, Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), http://www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Lea rning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact Dr. Steve Capps, Director, Lea rning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://www.missouristate.edu/contrib/ldc.

 

Nondiscrimination: Missouri State is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to Jana Estergard, Equal Opportunity Officer, Siceluff Hall 296, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of Professor Madeleine Kernen, Head, Department of Modern & Classical Languages.