LLT 121.002 Spring 2020

LLT 121.004 Classical Mythology	Office: 113 Siceluff Hall Phone: 836-6601
Spring Semester 2020	Office Hours: by appointment
11:00 am-12:15 pm TR, SICL 117	E-mail: JosephHughes at MissouriState.edu
Instructor: Dr. Joseph Hughes

TEXTS:

Powell, Classical Mythology (recommended; any edition will do)
Lattimore and Grene, The Greek Tragedies, volume 1
LLT 121 Reading Guide

COVRSE DESCRIPTION:

LLT 121: Classical Mythology is a class in the Missouri State University General Education program. It examines the diverse contributions made to human knowledge and experience by Classical Greco-Roman myth through cultural products such as art, music, and texts. The development of myths – that is, oral traditions once believed to be true – empowered ancient Greeks and Romans to chart humanity’s place in the universe and to contextualize pressing social questions such as class, gender, and race. Even in this age of science and social media, Classical myths continue to shape our consciousness of cultural and historical settings, both our own, and those of other people worldwide. By analyzing Classical myth as the fullest expression of ancient Greco-Roman cultural traditions and perspectives, students will develop an informed understanding of their own cultural contexts and to refine their thinking, believing, and acting toward success in a far more advanced but yet profoundly similar world.

COVRSE OBJECTIVES AND GENERAL EDVCATION GOALS:

As part of the Missouri State University General Education program, LLT 121: Classical Mythology fulfills a Knowledge of Human Cultures requirement. As detailed below, the LLT 121 Course Objectives directly address the Specific Learning Objectives (SLOs) for General Goal 9.

General Goal 9 (Humanities and the Arts): Students will cultivate their intellect, imagination, and creativity as they develop an understanding of how social, cultural, linguistic, artistic, religious, philosophical, and historical contexts have shaped the thoughts and actions of people worldwide.

SLO 9.1: Understand how various forms of written, oral, musical, visual, and bodily expression contribute to human knowledge and experience.
In LLT 121, students will learn to understand how Greco-Roman myth has contributed, in its various modes of expression, to the knowledge and experience of spatially and temporally diverse human cultures.
SLO 9.4: Interpret texts and other cultural products in ways that reflect informed understanding of relevant contextual factors, including socio-cultural influence and cultural traditions, perspectives, and behavioral patterns.
In LLT 121, students will learn to develop their understanding of cultural influences, traditions, perspectives, and behavioral patterns via the close study of Greco-Roman myth as represented in its diversity of expressions and contexts.
SLO 9.5: Analytically compare the influences of community, institutions, and other constructions such as class, gender, and race on the ways of thinking, believing, and acting in cultural and historical settings other than one’s own.
In LLT 121, students will learn to construe their values and behaviors both in their private lives and in the diverse society at large, as reflected in course readings.

TESTING AND GRADING:

The student's work in the course will be evaluated as follows: Average of Midterm and Final Exams (50% each) : 100%. Exams will consist of objective (identification, short answer, matching) and essay (thesis statement, proof, conclusion) questions. These will be largely, but not completely, non-comprehensive. Extra credit will not be given under any circumstances. Final grades will be assigned on the following basis: 90-100%= A; 80-89%= B; 70-79%= C; 60-69%= D; 59%-below= F. Students with questions about the evaluation of their work should consult the instructor immediately. Exams should be completed in either ink (blue or black) or in #2 pencil. Legibility will be appreciated.

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT:

Missouri State University 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 the Office for Equity and Diversity, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, (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 your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.

DISABILITY STATEMENT:

To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of 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 Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY STATEMENT:

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 the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at the University Academic Integrity website and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.

SYLLABUS:

Week 01 (13-17 January)
•    Intro, history, literacy, aetiology, animistic/anthropomorphic, epic poetry, Cyclops, hieros gamos
•    Aetiology, animistic, anthropomorphic, Achaeans, Indigenous Greeks, Myceneans, Xenophanes, hieros gamos, Dark Ages

Week 02 (20-24 January)
•    History, literacy, Theogony, creation of universe, Clash of Titans, Olympians, hieros gamos, All That Zeus, Weltanschauung, Hesiod vs. Ovid
•    Theogony, hieros gamos, Hittite Cronus Myth, Typhon, Olympians, Chaos, Uranus, Gaia, Titans

Week 03 (27-31 January)
•    Creation of humankind, Hesiod vs. Ovid, Weltanschauung, Prometheus, womankind, All That Zeus,
•    Prometheus, Themis, Pandora

Week 04 (03-07 February)
•    Olympians, All That Zeus, syncretism, offspring of Hyperion, offspring of Poseidon
•    Syncretism, Selene, Eos, Hyperion, Tithonus, Endymion, Helios, Phaethon

Week 05 (10-14 February)
•    Poseidon, Athena, Athenian Empire, Hermes,
•    Hubris, Womb Envy, Herms, Caduceus, Io

Week 06 (17-21 February)
•    Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Apollo vs. Dionysus
•    Delphic Oracle, Actaeon, Hubris, Miasma

Week 07 (24-28 February)
•    Aphrodite, katabasis, underworld, Myth of Er, mystery religion
•    Cybele, 53 Top Sinners, Charon, Cerberus, Hades, Socrates, Symposium

Week 08 (02-06 March)
•    Mystery Religion, Demeter/Dionysus, Hippolytus, Review
•    Comedy, Tragedy, rituals, Apollo vs. Dionysus, anthropomorphism, Weltanschauung

Week 09 (09-13 March)
•    Midterm Exam: Thursday, 12 March
•    Heracles and the Heroic
•    Heracles (Hercules), Herometer

Week 10 (23-27 March)

Week 11 (30 March-3 April)

Week 12 (06-08 April)

Easter Holiday (09-10 April)

Week 13 (13-17 April)

Week 14 (20-24 April)

Week 15 (27 April-01 May)

Week 16 (04 May-07 May)

Study Day (08 May)

Final Exam: Tuesday, 12 May @11:00 am OR Wednesday, 13 May @11:00 am (alternate time)