Module overview
What are myths and what do they do? In “Myth and the Ancient World” you will explore how the Ancient Greeks used myths to make sense of the world and their position in it. The module covers a time span of some 900 years, from the time of Homer and Hesiod to the late Hellenistic era. You will study a selection of well-known and less well-known myths from different perspectives; this may include themes such as home and identity, suffering and loss, male and female. You will be introduced to a range of written and non-written sources and learn to analyse them as evidence of their social, cultural, and political climate. All texts will be studied in an English translation.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- engage in independent study and research, identifying relevant resources
- Make use of a range of primary and secondary material in your own writing
- construct a clear and compelling written argument
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The shifting nature of myths and how variations are created to meet the specific needs of different communities or individuals.
- The political and religious context of a number of important Greek myths and variants of myths.
- The key trends in modern scholarship for understanding and interpreting myths.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Identify and critically assess scholarly views and arguments drawn from the historiography of myth.
- Analyse critically a diverse range of primary material pertaining to myths.
- Draw connections between the use of mythology in different historical periods.
Syllabus
Indicative topics include:
Multiform deities
Myths as Identity: Creation and Foundation Myths
Heroes and Monsters
The Underworld
Fate and Retribution
Myth and Mystery
Myth transformed
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods will include:
- lectures
- seminars
Learning activities include:
- reading and research in preparation for each seminar
- in-depth study of textual and visual primary sources
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 12 |
| Wider reading or practice | 36 |
| Seminar | 12 |
| Completion of assessment task | 54 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 36 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
K. Dowden (1992). The Uses of Greek Mythology.
R.D Woodard (2007). The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology.
L. Edmunds (1990). Approaches to Greek Myth.
M. Morford and R. Lenardon (1995). Classical Mythology.
H. Versnel (2011). Coping with the Gods. Leiden-Boston.
J-P. Vernant (1983). Myth and Thought Among the Greeks. London.
J. Bremmer (1998). Interpretations of Greek Mythology.
Clay, J.S. (2003). Hesiod's Cosmos. Cambridge.
F. Graf (1993). Greek Mythology: an introduction.
Marcel D. (2003). The Writing of Orpheus: Greek Myth in Cultural Context. Translated by JanetLloyd. Baltimore: : John Hopkins University Press.
J-P. Vernant (1980). Myth and Society in Ancient Greece. Sussex.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 60% |
| Written assignment | 40% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Resubmit assessments | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written assignment | 40% |
| Essay | 60% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External