Traditions and Cultures 102 - Sections 25-28

Western Cultures and Civilizations: Classical to Renaissance

Books in Dialogue: Biblical and Classical Traditions  

• Catalogue description
• Assigned texts
• Syllabus
• Requirements

Western Cultures and Civilizations: Classical to Renaissance  (3 units)  Historical development and fundamental concepts of western civilization, from ancient times to the Renaissance. Examines the heritage of ideas, values, and artistic expressions that shaped western tradition during that time.

Books in Dialogue: Classical to Medieval This course aims to provide solid grounding in the Western intellectual and cultural tradition through pairing of central literary, philosophical, and theological works. The second work in each pair will be studied as a response to the first: e.g., The Aeneid to The Odyssey and Aristotle’s ethics to Plato’s. Students will be encouraged to deal with each of the paired texts individually and comparatively and to compare members of different pairs, e.g., Augustine with Plato, and non-scriptural works of the Christian era with the selections from the Bible.

This course will follow developments in the Judaeo-Christian and Graeco-Roman traditions, especially during the millennium from 800 BCE to 200 CE., with attention to such topics as creation, war, tests of conscience, change, and the end of time. Work will focus on interpretation and comparison of selected passages from works read in translation, but there will be regular background lectures and group discussions. Assignments will include quizzes, short essays, and midterm and final exams.

Assigned reading

1. The Bible: Authorized King James Version with Apocrypha (Oxford, 1998). ISBN 0192835254. Paperback $18.95. Amazon price $12.89.
2. Ovid, Metamorphoses, trans. David Raeburn (Penguin, 2004). ISBN 014044789X. $11. Amazon $8.47.
3. Sophocles, The Three Theban Plays, trans. Robert Fagles (reprint Penguin, 2000). ISBN 0140444254. $11. Amazon price $8.80.
4. Plato, The Last Days of Socrates (Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo), trans. Hugh Tredenninck  (reprint, Penguin, 2003). ISBN 0140449280. $12. Amazon price $9.60.
5. Virgil, Aeneid, trans. Robert Fitzgerald (reprint, Vintage 1990). ISBN 0679729526. Paperback $10. Amazon price $8.
6. Dante, Inferno, trans. Robert Pinsky (Farrar, 1996). ISBN 0374524521. $10. Amazon price $8.

Syllabus

Scriptures and Classics (weeks 1-2) Aug 21-Sep 1

Apollo and Orpheus; Jeremiah
Beginnings (weeks 3-4) Sep 6-15

Deucalion and Cadmus; Noah and Abraham

Heroes and Heroines (weeks 5-6) Sep. 18-29

Saul, David, Judith; Achilles, Aeneas, Camilla. First midterm Sep. 29

Lovers (weeks 7-8) Oct 2-13

Venus and Adonis, Dido and Aeneas; David and Bathsheba, Solomon and Sheba

Tests of wisdom and courage (weeks 9-10) Oct. 16-27

Tiresias, Oedipus; Job

Tests of wisdom and courage: 2 (weeks 11-12) Oct. 30-Nov. 10

Socrates, Pythagoras; Jesus. Second midterm Nov. 10

Descents and visions (weeks 13-14) Nov. 13-22

Aeneas; John the Divine

Epilogue and Review (weeks 15-16) Nov. 27-Dec. 6

Dante in Hell (cantos 1-5-, 26, 30-34)

Final exam (Wed., Dec. 13, 11-1 in ML 311)

Requirements

Exams (50% of course grade)

First mid-term exam (10%)

Second mid-term exam (15%)

Final exam (25%)

Essays (40% of course grade)

            Best four of five essays due on alternate Fridays

Quizzes and discussions (10%)

            Best five of six to eight Friday quizzes and reflections (no make-ups)