Greek 439/539: Readings in Greek Oratory (Demosthenes) |
*Note: This is an old document. Many of the links are broken.*
Instructor: | |
Time/Location: | M/W, 4:30-5:45; Psychology 309 |
Contact Info: |
Office: Learning Services Building 215 |
OVERVIEWIn this course we will read the oration widely considered in antiquity (and later) as Demosthenes' masterpiece: On the Crown. We will read all (or at least the majority) of the speech in the original Greek, but we will also read extensively from other ancient sources (among these Aeschines, Isocrates and Plutarch) in translation and a broad range of modern scholarship to illuminate the social, historical, cultural and religious aspects of the speech and Athens in the later 4th century B.C. |
GOALSBy the end of this course, you should be able to:
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PREREQUISITESFor undergraduates (Greek 439), the prerequisites are satisfaction of the mid-career writing assessment (MCWA) and successful completion of Greek 202; for graduate students (Greek 539), the prerequisites are three units of 400-level Greek. |
READINGSThe required text is the following:
The following texts are recommended:
All three texts should be available in the bookstore, but used copies may be available for less elsewhere: amazon - Barnes & Noble - abe Books. There are a number of additional readings for this course, all of which will be available electronically: see the course schedule (below) for details. |
RESEARCHThe following texts may prove useful in navigating Demosthenes and his work. They can be found in the main library (where noted). All non-Reference library books will be placed on reserve. Editions and Commentaries
Other Orators (in translation): Aeschines, Dinarchus, Hyperides, Isocrates
Primary (Historical) Sources for Philip II and Alexander (in translation)
Studies on Demosthenes and His Time
Studies on Demosthenes and His Works
Works on Greek Oratory
General Tools for Classicists
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GRADINGGrading for the course will be based on the following breakdown:
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OTHER INFOSurprise! Cheating is not allowed. If you cheat, and I find out, you will receive a grade of 0 for the assignment and other bad things will happen. (See the U of A's code of academic integrity.) Office hours will be held whenever I am in my office. One can generally find me there between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., M–F. (A more detailed breakdown of when I will be available will be posted outside my office door.) You are also welcome and encouraged to make an appointment to meet with me. Call, email or holler. |
COURSE SCHEDULEWhat follows is a sketch outline of the Fall semester. Nightly reading assignments are due on the dates specified. Some of the reading assignments are pdf files. To view/download them, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download available here). Check this page often. Readings and assignments are subject to change. I'll try to give a heads-up in class if a major shake-up is imminent. I'll also try to have readings posted at least a week before the due date. |
Week | Monday | Wednesday |
1 | 8/20 Introductions IN CLASS: discuss course schedule, policies; read Heliastic Oath in Greek (Demosthenes 21 [Against Timarchus], 149–151) |
8/22 Greek Oratory: A Primer READ: Yunis, Introduction to On the Crown (pp1–33 of your text); On the Crown 1–9 MEMORIZE: map of Greece, Macedon and the Aegean (p. xiii of your text) for map quiz on 8/29 IN CLASS: circumstances of the case; structure of a speech; history/character of Greek oratory |
2 | 8/27 Greece in the Fourth Century, Part 1: Philip II READ: On the Crown 10–22; Pomeroy, et al., Ancient Greece. A Political, Social, and Cultural History, chapters 9 (pp330–353) and 10 (pp371–394) MEMORIZE: map of Greece, Macedon and the Aegean (p. xiii of your text) for map quiz on 8/29 IN CLASS: circumstances of the case; Philip II of Macedon and Demosthenes |
8/29 Greece in the Fourth Century, Part 2: Alexander READ: On the Crown 23–30; Pomeroy, et al., Ancient Greece. A Political, Social, and Cultural History, chapter 11 (pp395–415) IN CLASS: map quiz on map of Greece, Macedon and the Aegean (p. xiii of your text); Alexander |
3 | 9/3 Labor Day - no class | 9/5 Greek Poleis in the Fourth Century, Part 1: Thebes READ: On the Crown 31–45; Zeitlin, "Thebes: Theater of Self and Society in Athenian Drama," pp101–141 of Euben, Greek Tragedy and Political Theory PRESENTER: Greek tragedians and tragedies |
4 | 9/10 Greek Poleis in the Fourth Century, Part 2: Athens READ: On the Crown 46–62; Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians (xlii–lxix [pp183–207]) with (optional) commentary (pp274–310) PRESENTER: Aristotle and his works |
9/12 Demosthenes' Political Career READ: On the Crown 63–71; Plutarch, Life of Demosthenes: introduction (pp12–17) and text (pp188–217) PRESENTER: Plutarch and his works |
5 | 9/17 Isocrates and the Great Macedonian Hope READ: On the Crown 72–89; Isocrates 5: introduction (pp3–13, 15–19) and speech (pp74–108) PRESENTER: Isocrates and his works |
9/19 Greek Poleis in the Fourth Century, Part 3: Sparta READ: On the Crown 90–98; Xenophon, Politeia of the Spartans: introduction (pp67–73) text (pp75–92) and (optional) commentary (pp93–123) PRESENTER: Xenophon and his works |
6 | 9/24 Aeschines and Demosthenes: BFF? READ: On the Crown 99–111; Aeschines 3, introduction (pp3–17) |
9/26 Hour Exam #1 |
7 | 10/1 On the Crown: the Aeschines Version (Part 1) READ: On the Crown 112–127; Aeschines 3 (pp159–210) |
10/3 On the Crown: the Aeschines Version (Part 2) READ: On the Crown 128–135; Aeschines 3 (pp211–251) |
8 | 10/8 Sykophants READ: On the Crown 136–148; Osborne, "Vexatious litigation in classical Athens: sykophancy and the sykophant" (pp83–102) and/or Harvey, "The sykophant and sykophancy: vexatious redefinition?" (pp103–121), chapter 5 of Cartledge, Millett and Todd, NOMOS: Essays in Athenian law, politics and society PRESENTER: Greek comedy and comedians |
10/10 Patriots and Traitors READ: On the Crown 149–158; Chroust, "Treason and Patriotism in Ancient Greece," JHI 15 (1954): 280–288 PRESENTER: The Delian League |
9 | 10/15 Bribery READ: On the Crown 159–175; Taylor, "Bribery in Athenian Politics Part I: Accusations, Allegations, and Slander," G&R 48 (2nd ser.) (2001): 53–66 PRESENTER: the Second Athenian Confederacy |
10/17 The Attic Orators READ: On the Crown 176–190; Kennedy, "The Attic Orators," chapter 4 (pp64–80) of A New History of Classical Rhetoric PRESENTER: the Second Sophistic |
10 | 10/22 Demosthenes' Commentators READ: On the Crown 191–203; Gibson, Introduction (pp1–9) and chapter 1, "Form and Transmission" (pp13–25), of Interpreting a Classic: Demosthenes and his Ancient Commentators PRESENTER: Didymus and his works |
10/24 Demosthenes' Reputation in Antiquity READ: On the Crown 204–211; Cooper, "Philosophers, Politics, Academics: Demosthenes' rhetorical reputation in antiquity," chapter 8 (pp224–245) of Worthington, Demosthenes: Statesman and Orator PRESENTER: Cicero and his works |
11 | 10/29 Demosthenes' Reputation in the Postclassical World READ: On the Crown 212–223; Harding, "Demosthenes in the Underworld: A chapter in the Nachleben of a rhêtôr," chapter 9 (pp246–271) of Worthington, Demosthenes: Statesman and Orator |
10/31 Hour Exam #2
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12 | 11/5 Macedonia in the 4th Century: Snapshot of a Society READ: On the Crown 224–238; Hamilton, "The Hellenistic World," chapter 7 (pp163–191) of Raaflaub and Rosenstein, War and Society in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds: Asia, The Mediterranean, Europe, and Mesoamerica |
11/7 Politicians and Rhetors READ: On the Crown 239–247; Worthington, "Rhetoric and Politics in Classical Greece: Rise of the Rhêtores," chapter 17 (pp255–271) of Worthington, A Companion to Greek Rhetoric |
13 | 11/12 Veterans Day - no class | 11/14 Mystery Cults READ: On the Crown 248–260; Burkert, Introduction (pp1–11) and chapter 1, "Personal Needs" (pp12–29), of Ancient Mystery Cults PRESENTER: Greco-Roman mythology and state religion |
14 | 11/19 Actors READ: On the Crown 261–275; Easterling, "Actors and voices: reading between the lines in Aeschines and Demosthenes," chapter 6 (pp154–166) of Goldhill and Osborne, Performance culture and Athenian democracy |
11/21 Lawyers READ: On the Crown 276–285; Mirhady, "Demosthenes as Advocate: The private speeches," chapter 6 of Worthington, Demosthenes: Statesman and orator PRESENTER: Demosthenes' public speeches |
15 | 11/26 Demosthenes' Funeral Oration READ: On the Crown 286–296; Demosthenes 60 (pp8–17, 21–37) |
11/28 Demosthenes' Downfall? READ: On the Crown 297–305; Dinarchus 1 (pp3–44); Hyperides 5 (pp61–68, 115–127) |
16 | 12/3 Paper Presentations READ: On the Crown 306–319 |
12/5 Paper Presentations READ: On the Crown 320–324 |
17 | 12/10 Final Exams - no class | 12/12 Hour Exam #3 (5:00–7:00 p.m.) *Note: The exam will be the same length as the first two exams, but you will have the full final exam period to complete it, if necessary.* ***Long paper due by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 15*** |