Greek 520 Hellenistic Poetry
Winter 2025
TTh 2:30-4:20
DEN 257
Instructor: James J. Clauss
E-mail: jjc@uw.edu
Office: 262-C Denny Hall
Office Hours: before class (1:30) and anytime by appointment in person or on zoom
NB: Jan. 20, Feb. 17 are holidays
Required Text:
Neil Hopkinson, A Hellenistic Anthology Cambridge 2020 (second expanded edition)
Course Requirements:
Read assignments in Hopkinson and be prepared to translate in class (feel free to use the online Loeb Classical Library for help). Present a summary and analysis of a book chapter or article. Write a final paper on a topic of interest.
Bibliography:
Martine Cuypers鈥 remarkable on-line bibliography can be found at:
Items in Hopkinson鈥檚 bibliography, which we鈥檒l review in class on day one.
Annette Harder and Jacqueline Klooster, Cambridge Companion to Hellenistic Poetry. Cambridge Forthcoming.
Goals for the course:
Literary historical overview of the Hellenistic period
Observation of the esoteric style of writing of Hellenistic poets
Engaging the intertextual nature of Hellenistic poetry
Meeting a wide array of individual Hellenistic poets
Gaining a sense of the latest trends in scholarship on Hellenistic poetry
Grades:
Grades will be based on participation in the class, oral presentation of book chapter or article, and final paper on a topic to be determined (8-10 pages double spaced).
Schedule of Readings:
Tuesday Thursday
Week 1 (1/6-8) Introduction IX Theocritus
Week 2 (1/13-15) X Theocritus VI- VII Aratus
Week 3 (1/20-22) XIII Theocritus IV Callimachus
Week 4 (1/27-29) III Callimachus XXII - XXIII Bion
Week 5 (2/3-5) I-II Callimachus Nicander, Simias, Phanocles
Week 6 (2/10-12) XIX, XX Apollonius XVII, XVIII Apollonius
Week 7 (2/17-19) Moschus Out of town
Week 8 (2/24-26) Herondas, Machon Rhianus, Lycophron
Week 9 (3/3-5) XII Theocritus XI, XIV Theocritus
Week 10 (3/10-12) Epigrams Oral Presentations and Conclusions
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: