GREEK 463 A: Hellenistic Greek Literature

Spring 2024
Meeting:
MW 2:30pm - 4:20pm
SLN:
15095
Section Type:
Lecture
Instructor:
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

Greek 463 Theophrastus Characters

Spring 2022

MW 2:30-4:20

DEN 210

Instructor: James J. Clauss, 海角网

Office: Denny Hall M262F (difficult to find); tel. 543-2266 (department office phone)

E-mail: jjc@uw.edu

Office Hours: by in-person or zoom appointment

Holidays: Monday, May 27

Please note that I鈥檒l be unavailable April 3-5 and April 22-23. Please do the readings for these days and we鈥檒l go over the material afterwards.

 

Required Texts:

 

James Diggle, Theophrastus: CharactersCambridge Greek and Latin classics. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2022. For a colorful review of the book, see .

 

Extra Readings:

 

The life of Theophrastus in Diogenes Laertius:

Wikipedia article on Theophrastus:

惭别苍补苍诲别谤鈥檚 Dyskolos:

 

 

Resources:

 

Herbert Weir Smyth, Greek Grammar Harvard University Press 1920 (on-line at Hathi Trust Digital Library: )

 

H.G. Liddell and R. Scott, Greek-English Lexicon is available on line at:

Logeion:

 

The Perseus Project: Text of Theophrastus with grammatical help but no translation.

 

The Loeb Classical Library is available through the UW Library:

 

Oxford Classical Dictionary, Oxford: OUP 4th ed. 2012 (3rd ed. revised 2003), also at the UW Library:

 

Goals of the Course:

 

  • To increase facility in reading Greek prose by building vocabulary and familiarity with Greek morphology (forms), grammar and syntax.
  • To read a fascinating study of human character by Aristotle鈥檚 student and successor that also sheds light on characters in 海角网 and Greek New Comedy. They are also hilariously funny! The characters described are delightfully strange but eerily familiar.
  • The text and commentary by Diggle is outstanding and provides remarkable insights into the author鈥檚 style as well as the time in which he wrote (4th century BCE).
  • To recognize that even a student of Aristotle and head of the Lyceum has a wicked sense of humor. OMG!

 

Grade:

 

Test 1 (April 29): 25%

Test 2 (May 29): 25%

Final Paper: (6-8 pages; May 31): 30%

Participation: 20%

Note: both tests will involve essays and not translation.

 

Potential topics for the final paper will emerge during the quarter. You can choose an essay of your preference (e.g., analysis of one of the character types or comparison with several); summarize and critique an article or book chapter (bibliography at the end of the book); or write your own account of a 鈥渃haracter鈥 based on contemporary personality types in the style of Theophrastus or Menander! Note that, depending on your level of exposure, you may not complete class assignments. Read as much as you can in Greek and the rest in English. Your ability to read will improve as we move through the readings.

 

Schedule of Readings:

 

                                    Monday                                              Wednesday   

 

Week 1 (3/25)             Intro                                                    螘螜巍惟螡

 

Week 2 (4/1)               螝螣蚂螒萤                                              螒螖螣蚂螘危围螚危

 

Week 3 (4/8)               螒螕巍螣螜螝螣危                                        螒巍螘危螝螣危

 

Week 4 (4/15)             螒螤螣螡螘螡螣螚螠螘螡螣危                       蚂螒蚂螣危

 

Week 5 (4/22)             螞螣螕螣螤螣螜螣危                                     螒螡螒螜危围违螡韦螣危

 

Week 6 (4/29)             Test 1                                                  螠螜螝巍螣螞螣螕螣危

 

Week 7 (5/6)               螔螖螘螞螘巍螣危/ 螒螝螒螜巍螣危                    螤螘巍螜螘巍螕螣危/ 螒螡螒螜危螛螚韦螣危

 

Week 8 (5/13)             螒违螛螒螖螚危/ 螖螘螜危螜螖螒螜螠惟螡            螠螘螠唯螜螠螣巍螣危/ 螒螤螜危韦螣危

 

Week 9 (5/20)             螖违危围螘巍螚危 / 螒螚螖螚危                       螠螜螝巍螣桅螜螞螣韦螜螠螣危

 

Week 10 (5/27)           Holiday                                               Test 2

 

Please note:

 

海角网 Undergraduate Textbook fund (for majors and minors in 海角网): /undergraduate-textbook-fund

 

(Here's the official language of that link: The 海角网 Undergraduate Textbook Fund is designed to provide or defray the cost of textbooks needed for your courses taught by instructors from the 海角网. Requests must meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding:

  1. You must be a current major or minor in the 海角网.
  2. The textbook(s) must be required for the course by the instructor.
  3. You must be enrolled in the course for which the textbook is required. 

To apply for funding, please fill out this  and attach a receipt showing proof of purchase of your textbook(s).

Important UW policy-related things to know:

  • The UW's Religious Accommodations Policy:鈥淲ashington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW鈥檚 policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at . Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the .鈥
  • The UW's Student Conduct Code: "The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at 
  • Access and Accommodation: Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu or DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions.  Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS.  It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.

  • Academic Integrity: University of Washington students are expected to practice high standards of academic and professional honesty and integrity as outlined here:
  • UW COVID face covering policy: 
Catalog Description:
Readings and discussion of selected authors of the Hellenistic Age.
GE Requirements Met:
Arts and Humanities (A&H)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
April 17, 2026 - 1:55 am