Course Description

For over 3,000 years, the Trojan War’s story of love, betrayal, heroism, and revenge has fired imaginations and inspired artists. At once exotic and immediate, it provides an unrivaled view of humanity at its most heroic and vile. Because of the massive cultural influence of this story, it has influenced not only the stories we continue to tell but also the way in which we tell those stories.

In this course we will seek to understand the variations on the Trojan War myth and its profound role in the history of Western literature and culture. While our focus will be on a (mostly) chronological survey of the fundamental texts of the Trojan War myth, we will also investigate the myth’s influence on education, art, music, and film; as well as the still controversial question of the Trojan War’s historicity. In discussing these texts, special emphasis will be placed on how artists in different historical epochs adapted the Trojan War myth to their own cutlure and aesthetics.

The course will consist of a mixture of discussion, lectures, and student presentations. While I plan to encourage as much class participation as possible (and may have periodic discussion sessions), portions of most classes will be devoted to lectures on topics important for gaining a deeper appreciation of the works under consideration. Two or three times in the course of the semester, the class will meet to view a movie or play related to the Trojan War myth.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. The readings and lectures will be structured such that both Classics majors and non-majors will find this course challenging and stimulating.

Course Number: CSTS215
Location: Hall Building 007
Time: T/Th 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Instructor: Bret Mulligan
Office: Hall Building 008
E-Mail: bmulliga[at]haverford[dot]edu
Phone: x1052
Office Hours: MWF 1-3, TR 1-2 &
By Appointment (happily)

Updates

"The Trojan Myth in Music", class lecture by Michael R. Nock (2006)

Final Essay Topics

Study Guide for Midterm

Final Essay Assignment

Second Essay Assignment

Some Suggested Works for Final Project

Presentations on Ancient Works [updated]

First Essay Assignment

Study Guide for First Quiz

Journal Assignment

Rubrics: Standards for Evaluating Class Participation, Presentations, Journals, and Written Assignments