Greek Lyric Poetry
Code: 100398 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500243 Classics | OB | 3 | 2 |
| 2501907 English and Classics | OB | 3 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Carlos Varias García
- Email:
- Carlos.Varias@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Prerequisites
It is essential to have passed the subject Archaic Greek Epic Poetry, which is taken in the second semester of the second year.
Objectives and Contextualisation
This subject belongs to the branch Classical Language and Literature, and is conceived as continuity and complement of the subject Archaic Greek Epic Poetry, which has been taken in the second semester of the second year.
Description of the subject (according to the Syllabus): A selection of Greek lyric poetry of the so-called Archaic period (7th, 6th and beginning of the 5th centuries BCE) will be translated and commented, focusing on elegiac and iambic poets. An introduction to the Lesbian monodic poetry, to Anacreon and to the choral lyric poetry will also be done. Students will must read an anthology of Greek Lyric Poetry in translation.
Formative objectives: Work in attended classes, additional readings recommended, and, if appropriate, seminars and tutorials are intended for the student to acquire the following objectives at the end of the semester:
1/ To have the theoretical and technical knowledges which make him possible to understand any Greek lyric text, especially those composed by elegiac and iambic poets.
2/ To translate a Greek lyric text of 15-20 lines (especially elegiac and iambic) in one hour and a half.
3/ To make an exegetical and metrical analysis of a Greek poetry text (especially elegiac and iambic) from the issues proposed by the professor.
4/ To place a Greek lyric text in its historical and literary context.
Competences
- Classics
- Applying the acquired grammar knowledge to the analysis and comprehension of Greek and Latin texts.
- Identifying the classical literary fact and its transmission.
- Interpreting written Greek and Latin texts both in prose and verse, applying the philological method.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- English and Classics
- Identify the classical literary fact and its transmission.
- Interpreting written Greek and Latin texts both in prose and verse, applying the philological method.
- Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Applying the morphosyntactic analysis to the reading of Greek texts of increasing difficulty.
- Comment on a specific aspect of a passage of dubious interpretation.
- Contextualising in its cultural framework the corresponding genre, its genesis and its evolution.
- Demonstrating the knowledge of the philological techniques applied to ancient texts.
- Identifying the main issues of the corresponding genre.
- Mentioning an aspect of a passage of dubious interpretation.
- Producing a comment about the setting of a critical text and the details of the critical apparatus.
- Producing a grammar, metrics, and realia comment of a Greek text of the corresponding genre.
Content
1. Introduction to archaic Greek lyric poetry. The archaic age in Greece (7th and 6th centuries BCE): economic, social and political changes.- The genres of archaic Greek lyric poetry. Metre and language.- The contents of Greek lyric poetry.- The spreading and transmission of texts.
Compulsory readings: 1/ A. Lesky, Historia de la literatura griega, chapter IV.C: “La lírica temprana.1. Sus orígenes y géneros”, pp. 131-134; 2/ F. R. Adrados in J. López Férez (ed.), Historia de la literatura griega, chapter V.1: “Lírica griega. Introducción general”, pp. 106-116.
2. Iambus. General features. Iambic poets: Archilochus, Semonides, Hipponax.
Compulsory readings: 1/ A. Lesky, chapter IV.C.2: “El yambo”, pp. 134-142; 2/ F. R. Adrados, chapter V.2-3: “Elegía y yambo. Generalidades” and “Arquíloco”, pp. 117-132; chapter V.6-7: “Semónides” and “Hiponacte”, pp.136-144.
Translation and commentary:
Archilochus, F 1-5; 13; 19; 30-31; 105; 114 West.
Semonides, F 1; 7 West.
Hipponax, F 32; 34; 36; 39 West.
3. Elegy. General features. Elegiac poets: Callinus, Tyrtaeus, Mimnermus, Solon and Xenophanes.
Lectures obligatòries: 1/ A. Lesky, chapter IV.C.3-4: “Elegy” and “Solon”, pp. 142-153; 2/ F. R. Adrados, chapter V.4-5: “Callinus” and “Tyrtaeus”, pp. 132-136; chapter V.8-9: “Solon” and “Mimnermus”, pp. 144-154.
Translation and commentary:
Callinus, F 1 Gentili-Prato.
Tyrtaeus, F 6-7; 8 Gentili-Prato.
Mimnermus, F 5; 7-8 Gentili-Prato.
Solon, F 1-3; 30 Gentili-Prato.
Xenophanes, F 1-2 Gentili-Prato.
4. The elegiac corpora. Theognis and the Theognidean corpus.- Epigram.
Compulsory readings: 1/ A. Lesky, chapter IV.G.1-2: “Teognis” and “El epigrama y el escolio”, pp. 195-201; 2/ F. R. Adrados, chapter V.10-11: “Teognis y la Colección Teognidea” and “Epigrama”, pp. 155-167.
Translation and commentary:
Theognis 1-38, 53-68, 133-142, 1135-1150 West
5. Lesbian monody. Alcaeus and his political circle.- Sappho and her circle of women and girls.
Compulsory readings: 1/ A. Lesky, chapter IV.C.5: “El canto lesbio” p. 153-174; 2/ F. R. Adrados, chapter VII: “Monodia”, pp. 185-200.
6. Introduction to choral lyric and to Anacreon. Alcman and the choruses of Spartan girls.- The renovation of choral lyric: Stesichorus.- Ibycus of Rhegium.- Anacreon's monodic and symposiac poetry.- The splendor of choral lyric: Simonides, Bacchylides, Pindar.- Women poets: Corinna, Myrtis, Telesilla, Praxilla.
Compulsory readings: 1/ A. Lesky, chapter IV.C.6: “El canto coral”, pp. 174-180; chapter IV.G.3-5: “Anacreonte”, “Lírica de la madre patria” and “Lírica coral”, pp. 201-235; 2/ F. R.Adrados, chapter VI: “Lírica arcaica coral”, pp. 168-184; cap. VII.4-5: “Anacreonte” and “Escolios”, pp. 200-205; 3/ E. Suárezde laTorre in J. A. López Férez (ed.), Historia de la literatura griega, chapter VIII: “Lírica coral”, pp. 206-242.
Methodology
Attended lectures will be basically practical. The professor will devote time to:
1/ Reading, translating and commenting the programmed texts' selection.
2/ Giving to students means to can increase gradually the quantity of translated text.
3/ Correcting the texts daily translated by the students, individually or in groups.
4/ Commenting the linguistic, literary and sociocultural contents of the translated texts, focusing in particular on the aspects relating to their later tradition.
5/ Explaining contents which help to contextualise the text.
Students will have to be responsible for bringing every day the text to be translated and commented.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Exercises of translation and commentary | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 6 |
| Explanation of the theoretical contents of the subject | 9 | 0.36 | 3, 7 |
| Modular exams of translation (3) | 4.5 | 0.18 | 4 |
| Test of the compulsory reading (1) | 1.5 | 0.06 | |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Consulting and reading of additional bibliography | 15.5 | 0.62 | 3, 4, 5 |
| Programmed tutorial (x 3) | 4.5 | 0.18 | 7 |
| Supervised translations | 10 | 0.4 | |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Exercises and translations | 60 | 2.4 | 1, 7 |
| Reading of an anthology of Archaic Greek Lyrics | 15 | 0.6 | 5 |
Assessment
Evaluation of this subject will be done according to the evaluation activities which are stated in the table below.
It is very important that students take into account that evaluation also considers the regular attendance at lectures and the execution and assessment of exercises, translations and several questions proposed in lectures within the periods stipulated by the professor, in order to show the understanding and use of the contents explained by the professor.
Any student who has submittted two evaluation activities, one of them being an exam of translation, cannot resign to be evaluated; in other words, he/she will not have "Not Evaluable" as final mark.
Reaching a minimun mark of 4 in every evaluation activity is an essential requirement to do the final weighted average mark, which must be 5 or more to pass the subject. Only students who have failed an exam with a mark below 4, or have not reach 5 in the final weighted average mark, can resit at the reevaluation. Only two exam's marks (including the exam of compulsory reading) at the most can be resitted. The top mark of any resitted exam will be 5.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily work in lectures | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1, 6, 2, 3, 4, 8, 7, 5 |
| Written exam of translation with dictionary and metrical and literary commentary of texts not translated in lectures (1st modular exam) | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1, 6, 3, 4, 8, 7, 5 |
| Written exam of translation with dictionary and metrical and literary commentary of texts not translated in lectures (2nd modular exam) | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1, 3, 7 |
| Written exam of translation without dictionary and literary and sociocultural commentary of texts translated in lectures | 20% | 0 | 0 | 8, 5 |
| Written exam on the book: E. Suárez de la Torre, Antología de la lírica griega arcaica, Madrid 2002 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 3, 5 |
Bibliography
Basic bibliography:
A. Lesky, Historia de la literatura griega, Madrid: Gredos 1969.
J. A. López Férez (ed.), Historia de la literatura griega, Madrid: Cátedra 1988.
Editions of Greek texts:
- F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (online), Cambridge 2010.
- F. R. Adrados, Líricos griegos. Elegíacos y yambógrafos arcaicos (siglos VII-V a. C.), Madrid 2010.
- B. Gentili; C. Prato, Poetae elegiaci. Testimonia et fragmenta. Pars I, Leipzig 1988.
- M. L. West, Delectus ex Iambis et Elegis Graecis, Oxford 1980.
- M. L. West, Iambi et Elegi Graeci ante Alexandrum Cantati, I-II, Oxford 1972.
- D. L. Page, Lyrica graeca selecta, Oxford 1968.
Translations of Greek texts:
- F. R. Adrados, Lírica griega arcaica: poemas corales y monódicos, 700-300 a. C., Madrid 1980.
- M. Balasch, Lírica grega arcaica, Igualada 1963.
- M. Balasch, Píndar. Epinicis. Odes triomfals de l’olimpisme clàssic. Obra completa, Barcelona 1987
- A. Bernabé; H. Rodríguez Somolinos, Poetisas griegas, Madrid 1994.
- J. Ferraté, Líricos griegos arcaicos, Barcelona 1968.
- C. García Gual, Antología de la poesía lírica griega (siglos VII-IV a. C.), Madrid 1983.
- E. Suárez de la Torre, Antología de la lírica griega arcaica, Madrid 2002 [compulsory reading].
- E. Suárez de la Torre, Píndaro. Obra completa, Madrid 1988.
- E. Suárez de la Torre, Yambógrafos griegos, Madrid 2002.
- E. Suárez de la Torre, Elegíacos griegos, Madrid 2012.
Dictionaries:
- A. Bailly, Dictionnaire Grec-Français, Paris 196326.
- H. G. Liddell; R. Scott; H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford 1996 (with a revised supplement).
Brief additional bibliography:
- Lustrum 31-36 (1989-1994): critical bibliographic repertories of Greek lyric authors.
- F. R. Adrados, Orígenes de la lírica griega, Madrid 1976.
- F. R. Adrados, El mundo de la lírica griega antigua, Madrid 1981.
- F. R. Adrados, Sociedad, amor y poesía en la Grecia antigua, Madrid 1995.
- M. Brioso; A. Villarrubia (eds.), Consideraciones en torno al amor en la literatura de la Grecia antigua, Sevilla 2000.
- Margalida Capellà i Soler, Poetes gregues antigues, Barcelona 2004.
- F. J. Cuartero, “El simposi com a àmbit literari”, en Homenatge a Josep Alsina. Actes del Xè Simposi de la Secció Catalna de la SEEC (Tarragona, 28 a 30 de novembre de 1990), vol. I, Tarragona 1992, pp. 121-145.
- H. Fränkel, Poesía y Filosofía de la Grecia Arcaica. Una historia de la épica, la lírica y la prosa griegas hasta la mitad del siglo quinto, Madrid 1993 [translated from the original in German]
- B. Gentili, Poesía y público en la Grecia antigua, Barcelona 1996.
- D. E. Gerber (ed.), A Companion to the Greek Lyric Poets, ed. Brill: Leiden 2011.
- F. J. Gómez Espelosín, “La lírica arcaica como fuente histórica: condicionantes y perspectivas”, Estudios Clásicos 94 (1988), pp. 7-22.
- A. Guzmán Guerra, Manual de métrica griega, Madrid 1997.
- C. Miralles, “El yambo”, Estudios Clásicos 90 (1986), pp. 11-25.
- C. Miralles, “La lírica griega arcaica”, en Actas del VII Congreso Español de Estudios Clásicos (Madrid, 20-24 de abril de 1987), vol. II, Madrid 1989, pp. 17-42.
- C. O. Pavese, Tradizioni e generi poetici della Grecia arcaica, Roma 1972.
- J. Pòrtulas, “Poetas míticos de Grecia”, en Actas del X Congreso Español de Estudios Clásicos (Alcalá de Henares, 21-25 de septiembre de 1999), vol. I, Madrid 2002, pp. 289-312.
- E. Suárez de la Torre, “Religión griega y lírica arcaica”, en Actas del VIII Congreso Español de Estudios Clásicos (Madrid, 23 al 28 de septiembre de 1991), vol. II, Madrid 1994, pp. 33-79.
- M. L. West, Studies in Greek Elegy and Iambus, Berlín-New York 1974.
- M. L. West, Greek Metre, Oxford 1982.