Classics 5 - The Heroic Vision:Epics of Greece and Rome

Institution:

Dartmouth College

Subject:

Description:

08F, 09F: 2 Why does epic poetry repeatedly depict heroes fighting against the gods Whether Diomedes' rout of Aphrodite, Achilles' struggle against the river Xanthus, Capaneus' testing of the gods, or Hannibal's threat to Jupiter, classical literature has frequently taken theomachy ("god-fight") to be a central theme-a preoccupation continued in Christian epic of the Renaissance and seen even today in the bestselling novels of Philip Pullman. Concentrating on theomachic scenes in selected readings in translation, we will grapple with issues as varied as human free will, the nature of divinity, the complexities of martial force, the fragility of political legitimacy, and the power and limitations of artistic expression. By the end of the class students will have gained a new perspective on some of the central works in the Western cOpen to all classes. Dist: LIT; WCult: W. Chaudhuri.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

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Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

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Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.dartmouth.edu

Phone Number:

(603) 646-1110

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Quarter

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