Ancient Greek 5

What is the course about?

Of the many biographies of Alexander the Great to have emerged from Roman sources, Plutarch’s is the most compelling balance of historical authenticity and the Roman compulsion to make subtle references to moral and philosophical themes, expecting the reader to deduce the latter from the former. His Greek is somewhere between academic Koine and Neoclassical, and we’ll be learning advanced grammar from a very in-depth Attic Greek textbook that makes occasional reference to how Attic evolved into Koine. Expect your knowledge of Ancient Greek to be stretched and expanded, as you learn about the conquering Greek warlord whom Plutarch considered a parallel to Julius Caesar himself.

What will we cover?

We will work through as much of Plutarch’s Alexander as we can cover, potentially completing it by the end of the third term. On alternate weeks we will revise grammar using Donald Mastronarde’s Introduction to Attic Greek, which makes extensive reference to accentuation, rare forms and the more subtle applications of Classical grammar. This will involve Greek to English and English to Greek exercises.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Deeper understand the relationship between accentuation and inflection.
- Successfully navigate the peculiarities of Plutarch’s grammar.
- Understand how Roman authors mimicked Classical style.
- Appreciate the broad outline of the life of Alexander and assess for yourself whether Plutarch succeeds in his goals.
- Dispatch with some of the more advanced features of Attic grammar with greater ease.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

You should have studied Greek for three years and should have completed Classical Greek 4 or have equivalent experience. As this course is taught in English, you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions in English and also take part in class and group discussions on readings. Please look at the rest of the course outline carefully to decide if you may benefit from support with your English skills to help you take part fully in this class.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Everyone will be expected to translate about 60 lines of Greek each week independently, and then we will read through them and discuss in class. There will also be grammar instruction and grammatical exercises. Homework: about 2-3 hours per week.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

- Print out a Greek copy of Plutarch’s Life of Alexander from an online source that will be provided in Google Classroom.
- Introduction to Attic Greek: Second Edition by Donald J. Mastronarde (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2013)
- Plutarch: Alexander by J.R. Hamilton (many editions exist, including Bloomsbury, 1999).

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Any of the Ancient Greek 5 courses available in September.