Loyola University Chicago

CLST 283-WI: Classical Comedy and Satire

Spring Semester 2003
Dr. Jacqueline Long



Schedule of Reading Assignments and Topics

MWF 1:30-2:20 PM
Damen Hall 441

The reading assignments yield essential preparation for class meetings and discussions:
complete the reading before the day for which a reading is listed;
review it again as needed.


Texts

M 1/13 Introduction: Old Comedy in its Ancient Athenian Setting
W 1/15 The Old Comedic Citizen: Dicaeopolis, "Just City"
F 1/17 Comedic Success and the Community
M 1/20 No classes. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
W 1/22 You Say You Want an Education: We All Want to Change the World
  • reference: Aristophanes' Plays
  • Aristophanes, "Clouds," tr. Meineck, pp. 9-61 (equivalently, tr. Hadas, pp. 101-123, but Meineck uses more contemporary English, and gives useful contextual notes at the back)
  • Strunk and White, ch. IV, pp. 39-65
  • Study questions
F 1/24 Education and Community Values
  • reference: Aristophanes' Plays
  • Aristophanes, "Clouds," tr. Meineck, pp. 61-106 (equivalently, tr. Hadas, pp. 123-141; again, Meineck has more contemporary English and notes)
  • Strunk and White, ch. II, pp. 15-33
  • additional resource about designing an argument for an academic paper: Strategic Guide
  • Study questions
M 1/27 The Soul of Athens is in the Courtroom
W 1/29 It's a Wise Son who Knows his own Father
  • reference: Aristophanes' Plays
  • Aristophanes, "Wasps," tr. Meineck, pp. 183-233 (equivalently, tr. Hadas, pp. 166-183; again, Meineck has more contemporary English and notes)
  • Strunk and White, ch. Vb, pp. 76-86
  • Study questions
  • Remember the writing assignment!
F 1/31 Writing Assignment 1: The Generation of Comedy
M 2/3 Redeeming Beetle-Food: Mythological Travesty in Old Comedy
W 2/5 Getting a Peace of the Action
F 2/7 Fly, Fly Away
  • reference: Aristophanes' Plays
  • Aristophanes, "Birds," tr. Meineck, pp. 262-313 (equivalently, tr. Webb, ed. Hadas, pp. 229-254; again, Meineck has more contemporary English and notes)
  • Study questions
M 2/10 Athenian Imperialism for the Birds
  • reference: Aristophanes' Plays
  • Aristophanes, "Birds," tr. Meineck, pp. 314-381 (equivalently, tr. Webb, ed. Hadas, pp. 254-286; again, Meineck has more contemporary English and notes)
  • Performance today!
  • Revised version of Writing Assignment 1 due today! Please turn in your first draft and peer-review feedback along with your revised paper.
  • Study questions
W 2/12 Take Back the Polis / Take the Polis on Your Back
F 2/14 You Can't Live without Them
F 2/14, Sa 2/15
  • Friday 2/14, 7:30 PM, Simpson Multi-Purpose Room: The Feminist Forum and the Women's Studies Program sponsor a staged reading of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" to benefit Rape Victims Advocates.
  • Saturday 2/15, 7:30 PM, Rambler Room: The Department of Theatre sponsors a performance of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues", also to benefit Rape Victims Advocates.
  • I will be happy to accept a brief essay (3-4 pages) about either performance as a totally optional extra-credit assignment: compare and contrast how the modern feminist humor of "The Vagina Monologues" operates, with the gendered and sexual humor of Aristophanes' "Lysistrata."
  • The assignment, if you choose to do it, will be due at the start of class on Friday, 2/21.
M 2/17 Exam I: Athenian Old Comedy
W 2/19 Subvert the Patriarchy
  • reference: Aristophanes' Plays
  • Aristophanes, "Women in Power," tr. McLeish, pp. 3-37 (equivalently, "Ecclesiazusae," tr. Lindsay, ed. Hadas, pp. 417-444)
  • Study questions
F 2/21 What do Women Want? The Ends of Comic Subversion
  • reference: Aristophanes' Plays
  • Aristophanes, "Women in Power," tr. McLeish, pp. 37-60 (equivalently, "Ecclesiazusae," tr. Lindsay, ed. Hadas, pp. 445-462)
  • Study questions
M 2/24 Sweet Romance in the Country
W 2/26 Irresistible Force and Immovable Object
F 2/28 Writing Assignment 2: Character, Situation, Comedy
M 3/3 - Su 3/9 No classes. MIDSEMESTER BREAK!
M 3/3
  • Loyola will be on break, but the bounties of the Classical world never cease giving. Today the Lysistrata Project is planning an international web of performances in activism for peace.
  • If you have the opportunity to see or participate in a performance (check out the link for locations), I'll be happy to accept a brief review (3-4 pages) as a totally optional extra-credit assignment: build your essay on the question, how effectively did the performance you saw make "Lysistrata" advocate peace for a modern audience? Think about performance and humor; you may want to compare and contrast what we have observed about "Lysistrata" and fifth-century Athens.
  • The assignment, if you choose to do it, will be due at the start of class on Friday, 3/14.
M 3/10 Paved with Good Intentions
  • Menander, "The Woman from Samos," tr. McLeish, pp. 177-204
  • Study questions
W 3/12 Wit's Ends and Crossed Purposes
F 3/14 The Original Comedy of Errors
M 3/17 Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?
W 3/19 What Can You Do with a Boastful Soldier?
F 3/21 Victory and Choice
M 3/24 Blame-a-Dame Game
W 3/26 Nothing Exceeds Like Restraint
F 3/28 Writing Assignment 3: Who's Laughing Now?
M 3/31 What's the Matter with Kids Today?
W 4/2 Bringing Down Father
F 4/4 Exam II: New Comedy at Athens and Rome
M 4/7 Chatty Satirist
W 4/9 Satirically Speaking among Friends
F 4/11 Satire Does (Not) Take a Holiday
M 4/14 Writing Assignment 4: Talk Therapy
W 4/16 The Voice of Indignation
Th 4/17 (4:30 PM) -
M 4/21 (4:30 PM)
No classes. EASTER BREAK!
W 4/23 Satiric Corruption, Roman Style
F 4/25 Hope for Culture and the Vanity of Human Wishes
M 4/28
12:00-1:00 PM
Study day.
Tu 4/29
12:00 noon
Study day.
T 5/6
12:40-2:40 PM
Final examination.
See Loyola's Final Exam Schedule.
  • At exam-time: optional rewritten version of Writing Assignment 3, if you choose to submit a revised version for regrading, due! (otherwise the Draft grade will be your grade for the Assignment)

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Revised 28 April 2003 by jlong1@orion.it.luc.edu
http://www.luc.edu/depts/classics/