Greek Orators and Prose Composition

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course offers a study of the Attic orators (in particular Lysias, Demosthenes, Isocrates). Greek rhetorical texts from the Roman era (e.g., Dio Chrysostomus, Aelius Aristides, Libanius, Gregory of Nazianzus) may also be included. In addition, three tragedies and one comedy are studied in translation. Themes from the modern reception of Greek drama may also be included in the study. In addition is offered an introduction to the history of classical scholarship with particular emphasis on the activity of the philologists of ancient Alexandria.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

The candidate has

  • increased knowledge of Greek grammar and literary style through analysis of the texts studied
  • increased knowledge of the characteristic traits of the literature and culture that the study addresses.

Skills

The candidate can

  • translate moderately difficult English or Norwegian sentences into Greek
  • analyse, abstract and mediate Greek texts

General competence

The candidate can

  • acquaint herself with the grammatical structure of a new language
  • mediate knowledge of grammatical structures in Greek

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
Minimum one of the following courses: GRE101, GRE102, GRE103, GRE104
Recommended Previous Knowledge
We recommend that students have passed examination on at least three Greek courses on the 100-level or attained an equivalent level of knowledge and skill.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course
The course is open to everyone with study right at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

Writing training, also lectures on parts of the course literature.

One hour a week.

If less than five students register to a course, the Department may introduce reduced teaching; cf. the relevant guidelines on Mitt UiB (Canvas). On courses where reduced teaching may be given, the students will receive information at the start of the semester, before the 1. Feb. / 1. Sept. deadline for registering.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
None
Forms of Assessment

The examination consists in a written exam to be completed in six hours, in which the candidate translates a text from English or Norwegian into Greek the aid of a dictionary, and answers questions from other parts of the course literature.

The exam assignment will be given in the language of instruction in the course.

The exam can be submitted in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading Scale
The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade, grade F is a fail.
Assessment Semester
Spring
Reading List
The course literature encompasses about 100 pages of Greek prose (30 lines = 1 page), at least 50 of which are studied in commented editions. In addition, an introduction to Classical rhetoric is included as well as relevant parts of handbooks on grammar and stylistics.
Course Evaluation
Students evaluate the course in accordance with the quality assurance system at UiB and the Department.
Examination Support Material
A dictionary from Greek to native language or to other language of choice, which does not contain declination and conjugation tables: Berg, Græsk-dansk ordbok; Liddell-Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon, or a dictionary of equivalent size.
Programme Committee
The programme board of Classical Philology
Course Coordinator
Faculty representatives from Classical Philology
Course Administrator
Department of linguistic, literary and aesthetic studies