RLS012 Classical Greek Literature: Attic Prose and Hellenistic Period

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Irena Radová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Irena Radová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
( RLS011 Classical Greek Literature I || KR011 Classical Greek Literature I ) && KR012 Classical Greek Literature II
There are no specific demands; however, completing the course Classical Greek Literature: From Homer to Euripides is recommended.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 13 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course, following after the course Classical Greek Literature: From Homer to Euripides, is to present a comprehensive summary of the further development of the poetic and prosaic literary genres in the ancient Greek literature in the Hellenistic age and partially also in the Classical period (Attic prose) with a short introduction into the Roman period. The lectures also include the ways of preserving evidence of Greek literature and examples of the reception of Greek literature.
Learning outcomes
After the completion of the course, the students:
- can describe the development of the Greek literature in the periods in question together with the historical context;
- can characterize relevant genres of Greek prose and poetry in the periods in question and describe their particularities;
- can name the prominent figures of the genres in question and characterize their works;
- are also informed about the relevant secondary literature.
Syllabus
  • 1.-2. The prose of the Classical Period – historiography: Thucydides; Xenophon; tragic historiography.
  • 3.-5. The prose of the Classical Period – rhetoric and oratory: Demosthenes; Isocrates; Lysias; "Canon of Ten".
  • 6. Hellenistic period – introduction (Museion).
  • 7. Poetry of the Hellenistic period – programme: Callimachus of Cyrene.
  • 8. Epic poetry of the Hellenistic period: Apollonius Rhodius.
  • 9. Didactic poetry of the Hellenistic period (Aratus; Nicander of Colophon).
  • 10. Lyric poetry of the Hellenistic period (Theocritus and his followers; epigrams).
  • 11. Hellenistic drama.
  • 12. Hellenistic prose: historiography; novel.
  • 13. The following development of the Greek literature in the Roman period.
Literature
    required literature
  • APOLLÓNIOS RHODSKÝ. Argonautika. Edited by Magdalena Moravová, Translated by Josef Jaroš. Vyd. 2. Praha: Argo, 2013, 319 s. ISBN 9788025707395. info
  • Písně pastvin a lesů. Translated by Rudolf Mertlík. Vyd. v tomto souboru 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1977, 440 s. URL info
  • MENANDROS. Komedie pro všední den. Translated by Karel Hubka - Eva Stehlíková. Vydání první. Praha: Svoboda, 1983, 409 stran. info
  • Obrázky z řeckého života. Translated by Rudolf Mertlík - Ferdinand Stiebitz - Radislav Hošek. Praha: Svoboda, 1983, 458 s. URL info
  • POLYBIOS. Dějiny. Translated by Pavel Oliva. Vydání první. Praha: Arista, 2011, 415 stran. ISBN 9788073401252. info
  • LÚKIANOS. Šlehy a úsměvy. Translated by Ladislav Varcl. Vyd. 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1969, 312 s. URL info
  • LONGOS. Dafnis a Chloé (Obsaž.) : Láska a dobrodružství. info
    recommended literature
  • Handbuch der griechischen Literatur der Antike. Edited by Bernhard Zimmermann - Antōnios Renkakos. München: C.H. Beck, 2014, xxxiv, 112. ISBN 9783406618185. info
  • The Cambridge History of Classical Literature. General ed. Patricia E. Easterling. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982. info
  • LESKY, A. Geschichte der griechischen Literatur. Bern, 1971. info
  • SCHMID, Wilhelm and Otto STÄHLIN. Geschichte der griechischen Literatur. München: Beck, 1961. info
  • BARTOŇKOVÁ, Dagmar. L. Canfora, Dějiny řecké literatury. přeložil kolektiv autorů pod vedením D. Bartoňkové (přeložila cca 300 stran). Praha: Koniasch Latin Press, 2001, 893 pp. info
  • DEL CORNO, D. Letteratura greca. Milano, 1988. info
    not specified
  • STIEBITZ, Ferdinand. Stručné dějiny řecké literatury. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1967, 247 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures. Homework: reading discussed texts. E-learning.
Assessment methods
Individual reading during the semester (texts are partially found in the e-course). Oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/24-25/course/view.php?id=259
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/RLS012