GREEK LITERATURE II

HEROES. THE DUEL, FROM EPIC TO TRAGEDY
This course is intended to develop and deepen the Greek Literature I course and prepare for the courses in the Master's program. The hero is always an ambiguous, problematic figure, poised between good and evil. The heroes' duel is the symbol of confrontation, a sign of glory and hatred, but also of memory and humanity amidst pain and death. It is the most important and spectacular action in epic poetry (from Homer to Hesiod to Quintus Smyrnaeus), and the confrontation between heroes becomes a tragic paradigm on the stage of classical theater in Athens (Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes).
Technical objectives: Linguistic and literary analysis of Greek literary texts in verse and prose. Further development of grammatical, linguistic, and literary skills. Complete reading and knowledge of significant Greek literary texts in the original language. The Issues, Functions, and Perspectives of Myth in Epic, Lyric, and Classical Drama. Outlines of the History of Classical Greek Literature.

The course aims to train specific skills in the field of Greek literature, starting from the archaic and classical ages, with the ability to evaluate the peculiar characteristics of orality, aurality and cultural functions within the society of democracy and the polis between the archaic and classical ages with developments between Hellenism and the imperial age.
In relation to the Heroes (war, duel, memory), the course aims to create a path through all Greek literature, with projections into modern literatures and applications of the skills and theoretical knowledge acquired.

The course is open to all students who have a basic knowledge of the Greek language.*
For a good result in the use of the course, it is recommended to attend the ONLINE METRICS LESSONS on Moodle (with useful materials) as preparation and in person the ALETHEIA LABORATORIES and the GREEK LITERATURE SEMINARS that are held in conjunction with the courses to form adequate skills on metrics and on the problems of interpretation and translation of ancient texts.

*For students who do not have a basic knowledge of the Greek language, it is recommended that they attend the Greek Language Workshops before taking the Greek Literature courses.

HEROES. THE DUEL, FROM EPIC TO TRAGEDY
The course offers, starting with the complex figure of the hero (A. Brelich), a broad exploration of the themes of war, the enemy, and in particular the thematic structures of the epic duel as a paradigm of heroic deeds. The meanings of the duel in ancient Greece will be defined through the analysis of a series of texts in the original language, starting with the testimonies of archaic epics, in Homer's Iliad for Hector, Telamonian Ajax, and Achilles, and in Hesiod's Shield for the duel between Heracles and Kyknos. The focus of the investigation is the representation of heroes in the theater of classical Athens, with Aeschylus's "Seven Against Thebes." Other examples of the duel will be examined, with the notable late-antique influence of Quintus Smyrnaeus and the duel between Penthesilea and Achilles. Alongside textual analysis, the course also explores the iconography of myth and heroic duels.
In relation to the texts, questions of language, metrics, and literary theory are addressed. Further exploration is planned regarding the motifs of myth and their function in ancient societies. A specific development will consider modern developments in the representation and logic of war and hatred.
Still in the spirit of experimentation, following the introductory rules, we will evaluate narrative structures and mythical thoughts around the duel and try to see what they tell us. Myths have a special power. We discover quite a few things we didn't expect. If the Iliad is a poem of strength, through research we discover that it is above all a poem of the pain and horror of war. Myths help us and tell us a great deal about ourselves.

GREEK TEXTS
1. EPIC DUELS
The duel of Hector and Ajax (Homer, Iliad 7)
The duel of Hector and Achilles (Homer, Iliad 22)
Sporting contests: The duel of Telamonian Ajax and Diomedes (Homer, Iliad 23)
The duel of Heracles and Kyknos (Hesiod, The Shield of Heracles)

2. TRAGIC DUELS
Aeschylus, The Seven Against Thebes

3. LATE ANTIQUE EPIC
The duel of Achilles and Penthesilea
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica 1

4. ICONOGRAPHY OF THE DUEL
Achilles, Hector, Penthesilea, Heracles

Edition with with Text and Translation
Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound, ed. by M. Griffith, Cambridge 1983.
Aristofane, Le donne all'assemblea, a c. di M. Vetta, Milano 1989.

The other Greek texts will be provided by the teacher (Moodle)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. Brelich, Gli eroi greci, Milano 2020 (1958)
K. Barbaresco, Pentesilea e le donne troiane. Sconfinamenti da Omero a Quinto Smirneo, in C. Pepe, E. Porciani (edd.), Sconfinamenti di genere. Donne coraggiose che vivono nei testi e nelle immagini, vol. 2, Caserta 2021, 25-33 (PDF)
A. Camerotto, Il vanto dell’eroe. Funzioni e strutture tematiche, «Aevum Antiquum» n.s. 3, 2003, 455-466 (PDF)
A. Camerotto, «Ai cani e agli uccelli!»: l’aikia nel duello eroico, «Aevum Antiquum» n.s. 3, 2003, 467-480 (PDF)
A. Camerotto, Il duello e l’agone. Le regole della violenza nell’epica eroica, «Nikephoros» 20, 2007, 9-32 (PDF)
A. Camerotto, Parole di sfida. Funzioni ed effetti nel duello eroico, «Lexis» 25, 2007, 163-175 (PDF)
A. Camerotto, Fare gli eroi. Le storie, le imprese, le virtù: composizione e racconto nell’epica greca arcaica, Padova 2009
A. Camerotto, Il nome e il sangue degli eroi. Dalle parole alle armi nell’epica greca arcaica, in A. Camerotto, R. Drusi (edd.), Il nemico necessario. Duelli al sole e duelli in ombra tra le parole e il sangue, Padova 2010, 13-44 (PDF)
A. Camerotto, Il nome e il sangue secondo Quinto Smirneo. Riprese e trasformazioni di un motivo del duello eroico, in A. Aloni e M. Ornaghi, Tra panellenismo e tradizioni locali. Nuovi contributi, Messina 2011, 407-430 (PDF)
A. Camerotto, I giorni del sangue. Immagini e codici eroici della violenza per la Ilioupersis, «L’Immagine Riflessa» 21, 2012, 65-94 (PDF)
A. Camerotto, Le parole alate nel mezzo: variazioni epiche tra il duello e la xenia, in P. Angeli Bernardini, M.G. Fileni, Tipologie e modalità della mediazione nella Grecia antica. Le fonti letterarie, Pisa-Roma 2017, 39-51 (PDF)
E. Chies, Le mani di Epeo, ovvero il fair play degli eroi, in A. Camerotto, F. Pontani (edd.), Eris. Archeologia del conflitto, Milano-Udine 2024, 135-162 (PDF)
A. Cozzo, La logica della guerra nella Grecia antica. Contenuti, forme, contraddizioni, Palermo 2024 (PDF)
F. Tanozzi, Il guerriero capovolto. Duelli e rovesciamenti, in A. Camerotto, F. Pontani (edd.), Eris. Archeologia del conflitto, Milano-Udine 2024, 113-134 (PDF)

A working bibliography will be supplied during the class.

Outlines of the history of Greek literature of the Classical Age:
A. RODIGHIERO, Civiltà letteraria della Grecia antica, L'Età Classica, pp. 99ff.
For metrics, TEACHING SHEETS and ONLINE METRICS LESSONS are available. For further information see M.C. Martinelli, Gli strumenti del poeta. Elementi di metrica greca, Bologna 1995 (Cappelli).

The examination is an oral test and consists of the reading, translation and commentary of the greek texts. It includes a discussion of a subject from the history of Greek Literature.

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

The evaluation, from 0 to 30/30 cum Laude corresponds to the solidity of the preparation based on the following criteria:
1. linguistic knowledge of the texts.
2. metrical reading of poetic texts (hexameter, trimeter, etc.) and ability to analyze and explain the rhythmic-semantic structures.
3. knowledge and scientific discussion of the texts in the program.
4. knowledge and scientific discussion of the course topics.
5. notions of literary history.
6. knowledge and discussion of the studies in the program.
7. iconographic competence and knowledge.

For a reflection on the meanings of the course skills and knowledge see M. BETTINI, A che cosa servono i Greci e i Romani?, Torino 2017, A. CAMEROTTO, Heracles and the Monkey. Paideia and Money in Lucian of Samosata, Mnemosyne 75, 2022, 113-144.

Conventional. Metrical reading and interpretation of the text.
It is required a regular attendance at the lectures.

WORKSHOPS IN GREEK LITERATURE
In preparation for and alongside the Greek Literature courses, GREEK LITERATURE SEMINARS are held.
Knowledge of the hexameter and iambic trimeter is required for the Greek Metric. ONLINE EXERCISES are being prepared to support Greek Literature courses with classroom verification.
Students are invited to attend the Seminars and Exercises for adequate preparation for the Greek courses and for in-depth study of the topics covered.