BA Seminar 4018-SEM21

The seminar is devoted to the reception of ancient myths in culture, from antiquity up to the 21st century, with a special focus on Polish and world literature. The aim of the course is to develop students’ ability to notice how various works are inspired by Greek and Roman mythology, and to interpret mythological themes in the context of social, political and cultural changes in different periods. These issues will be discussed on the example of selected works, accounting for the group’s interests and needs. The course includes joint work in class and the students’ work on their own, the effects of which will be presented and discussed during the seminar.
Participation in the seminar does not mean that the student has to write a bachelor’s thesis under the seminar teacher’s supervision.

Type of course

elective courses

Prerequisites (description)

(in Polish) Przed rozpoczęciem zajęć student: 1. zna najważniejszych autorów/bohaterów starożytnych; 2. streszcza podstawowe mity greckie i rzymskie w ogólnym zarysie; 3. zna język angielski na poziomie pozwalającym mu uczestniczyć biernie w konferencji i śledzić tok dyskusji badaczy, a także podejmować próby pisania krótkich tekstów (nad poprawnością językową będziemy wspólnie pracować).

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the seminar, students will be able to:
1. define a myth
2. describe the different reception of ancient texts
3. summarize the most important Greek and Roman myth cycles
4. analyse how ancient myths function in literature, music, and visual arts from antiquity to the 21st century
5. explain the relations between the character of the reception of myths and social, political and cultural changes which occurred in different periods
6. evaluate the importance of mythology in culture
7. take part in a creative discussion
8. make an effective presentation

Assessment criteria

Continuous assessment (being prepared for class and active participation) - 20%
papers - 20%
presentations - 20%
semester test (paper) - 40%
Attendance will be monitored (2 absences are allowed; any further absences have to be made up for individually).

Bibliography

1. Teksty źródłowe, których bazę będziemy kompletować w trakcie zajęć.

2. Przykładowe opracowania (nieobowiązkowe):
• Davidson Reid, Jane / Rohmann, Chris: Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1300-1900s. Oxford University Press. Oxford-New York 1993, voll. I-II;
• DeMello, Margo: Animals and the Society. Columbia University Press. New York 2012;
• Głowiński, Michał: Mity przebrane: Dionizos, Narcyz, Prometeusz, Marchołt, labirynt. Wydawnictwo Literackie. Kraków 1994;
• Grimal, Pierre: Słownik mitologii greckiej i rzymskiej. Ossolineum. Wrocław et al. 1990, polska red. nauk. Jerzy Łanowski;
• Moog-Grünewald, Maria, ed.: The Reception of Myth and Mythology, Brill’s New Pauly, Supplements 4, Brill, Leiden–Boston 2010 (transl. D. Smart, orig. in German 2008);
• Morford, Mark P. O., Lenardon, Robert J.: Classical Mythology. Oxford University Press. New York 2003;
• Segal, Robert A.: Myth. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. New York 2004;
• Tylicka, Barbara &, Grzegorz Leszczyński: Słownik literatury dziecięcej i młodzieżowej, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, Wrocław 2003;
• Woodard, Roger D. (ed.): The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology. Cambridge University Press. New York 2007.