THE WORLD OF ODYSSEUS
CAH3ODY
2018
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
This subject will engage with the Greek hero figure Odysseus and his world. Our task in the first place is to consider his role in early Greek epic poetry (the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer), especially in the Trojan war, and in his great quest to get back home to his wife, his father and his son on the island of Ithaca. This will be the main focus of the subject. The Odyssey presents Odysseus as a rugged survivor and man of cleverness and our task is to identify the core elements of his character and his myth. In this context we will consider this kind of heroism and the way it is distinguished from other heroes, especially the figure of Achilles in Homer's Iliad. We then turn to later manifestations of Odysseus in Greek drama, in Latin literature, and in art and in film (that is, the Ulysses tradition). In many ways Odysseus is the Greek heroic figure who has come most prominently into our own world, especially in literature and film, and one of our tasks is to explore the reasons for this.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Christopher Mackie
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: One second year MDS subject or the approval of the subject co-ordinator
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: MDS3ODY
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | The Odyssey of Homer | Prescribed | Lattimore translation (any year) | Chicago |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Gain an understanding of the world of Mycenaean and Homeric Greece through the main primary sources
- Activities:
- Reading, discussion and assessment tasks
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Acquire an understanding of the main critical approaches to Greek heroic myth and literature
- Activities:
- Reading, discussion and assessment tasks
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
03. Develop an informed sense of the theoretical basis of 'reception studies', where ancient mythical narratives are explored in their modern context
- Activities:
- Reading, discussion and assessment tasks
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
04. Acquire a developed level of research research skills and writing appropriate to the study of Greek epic poetry and drama.
- Activities:
- Consider special skills associated with researching and writing in this area
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Melbourne, 2018, Week 46-47, Blended
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Christopher Mackie
Class requirements
SeminarWeek: 46 - 47
Twelve 2.0 hours seminar per study period on weekdays during the day from week 46 to week 47 and delivered via face-to-face.
LectureWeek: 46 - 47
One 12.0 hours lecture per study period on any day including weekend during the day from week 46 to week 47 and delivered via online.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| In class test A (equivalent to 1000 words) | 25 | 01, 02 | |
| In class test B (equivalent to 1000 words) | 25 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| 2000 word research essay | 50 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |