Maybe Homer was blind, but he could tell a good tale. Although the Trojan war itself lasted for ten years, The Iliad only covers a critical 51 days occurring towards the end of that war, when troops were weary, and leadership faltered. This course will follow the renowned Achilles and his rage over an insult to his honor driving him towards his heroic battle with Hector. Skipping some chapters, we will read to the end while examining specific passages for textual analysis during class. The Lattimore translation will be used for these passages. To find it on Amazon, search specifically for ISBN 0226470490. However, any translation will be fine. As we follow the course of this epic tale, we will look at many cultural aspects including ancient warfare, attitudes towards women, the role of the gods, the mark of the hero, and the celebration of Greek civilization.
((Joan Cucinotta - Wednesday - In-Person))
