Syllabi for Dr. Lake

Mythology 2018 Summer

Mythology

Spring 2017

 

INSTRUCTOR 

 

Sean Lake

 

Office: 1-168

 

Office Hours:

                            

Monday:  7:30- 8:15 and 1 – 2:15 and 4 – 4:30

Tuesday: virtual 11am – 2pm: best to contact me on skype at seanelake

Wednesday: 7:30- 8:15 and 1 – 2:15 and 4 – 4:30

Friday: virtual 11am – 2pm: best to contact me on skype at seanelake

 

Email: slake4@valenciacollege.edu

 

*Skype: PLEASE plan on using skype when you have complicated questions. It  is tedious and sometimes impossible to answer certain questions by e-mail. The best method in some cases is for me to be able to write and speak to you on skype. If skype is impossible for you, please contact me for my phone number. If my virtual hours on skype do not work for you, I can be available at another time that we arrange.

 

 

GRADES

Class Attendance and Participation: 20%

 

Ongoing project: Midterm Exam Review of Keys: Terms, Figures, and Dates: 10%

 

            Quizzes and Short Essays: 10%

 

Midterm: 20%

 

Final Exam: 20%

 

Final Paper: 20% (related especially to the ongoing projects above)

 

NOTES:

1. No make-up exams or quizzes without a written excuse.

2. 3 unexcused absences will lower your grade one full grade.

3. No extra-credit work will be offered or accepted.

4. All work is due at the beginning of class on the day assigned unless you can provide written documentation excusing yourself.  Otherwise, no late work will be accepted.

5.  Unless indicated, all work is to be handed-in as hardcopy only

 

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: The class will be conducted according to the guidelines for academic integrity as they are outlined in the Valencia catalogue.  Cheating or plagiarism will result in a grade of zero on the assignment in question and will be reported to the Dean’s office. Phones and computers must be turned off during class. 

 

ACCOMODATIONS: If you are requesting academic accommodations due to a disability, please give me a copy of your accommodation plan from Disability Services within the first two weeks of the semester.

 

 

COURSE INFORMATION FROM THE VALENCIA CATALOGUE

 

Prefix: HUM2310

Title: Mythology

Credit Hours: 3

    

Description:
MYTHOLOGY Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in ENC 1101 or ENC 1101H or IDH 1110

Examines world mythology in comparative perspective, analyzes myths with a variety of methods, and considers the application of mythological ideas and symbols in the humanities. Students must demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments. Minimum grade of C required if used to satisfy Gordon Rule requirement.

 

Valencia’s Withdrawal Policy (effective Fall 2010) states that students are able to

withdraw themselves only up to the Withdrawal Deadline, which is March 27, 2016, for

the Full Spring Term (Withdrawal Deadlines for other parts of term are published in the

2015-16 Important Dates Calendar and are listed in the College Calendar link on the

Valencia College home page - http://valenciacollege.edu/). After the Withdrawal

Deadline, I may withdraw students who are in violation of the course attendance

policy up to the beginning of the final exam period.

 

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course if he or she feels he can not complete the requirements of the course. Students may withdraw at any time until the Withdrawal Deadline and receive a W.  After the deadline, however, only I will be able to withdraw students and, then, only for excessive absences. Excessive absences in this course are defined as seven or more absences.

 

ADD/DROP and IMPORTANT DEADLINES

   

 

Registration Date

Payment Due

November 1 to December 9

Friday, December 9 (5:00 PM)

December 10 to End of Term

Due Upon Registration

 

A late registration fee will be charged from December 10 to end of Term

 

November 1

TIP registration begins

January 17

TIP registration ends

January 17

Add/Refund Deadline (Drop classes with 100% refund)

January 27

Business Office refund begins

January 31

Financial Aid Disbursement begins

March 10

VA Deferments due

 

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

Identify the meeting time of your class.

MW 8:30 – 9:45 W April 26, 2017 7:00 – 9:30

MW 10:00 – 11:15 M April 24, 2017 10:00 – 12:30

MW 11:30 – 12:45 W April 26, 2017 10:00 – 12:30

MW 13:00 – 14:15 M April 24, 2017 13:00 – 15:30

MW 14:30 – 15:45 W April 26, 2017 13:00 – 15:30

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS – SEE BLACKBOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS AND UPDATES TO THE SCHEDULE OF READINGS

Details for each week will be posted on Blackboard announcements. The calendar below is an overview and synopsis of the topics and texts covered each week.

 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS

 

 

 

 

 Week One: 1/9 and 1/11 The End

 

Lecture:

 

I.                    Introduction

 

II.                 definitions of myth and hero

 

 

III.              The first myths: Sumeria and Greece

 

IV.              Epic Songs

 

V.                 The first heroes and the first monsters

 

VI.              Creation myths

 

Homework:

Reading: Gilgamesh

Writing: define myth and provide one example; define hero and provide one example; what is the term to describe the opposite of the hero?

 

Week Two: NO CLASS and 1/18 In the Beginning

 

I.                    The Olympian Gods of Greece

 

II.                 The Nature of the Gods

 

Homework:

Reading: selections from Hesiod’s Theogony; Leeming pages 15-68 and 256 - 261

Writing:  2 assignments

long term: start glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; a chronology of dates; and a collection of different definitions of myth. This glossary and collection of definitions, names, and dates will be handed in before the midterm and before the final exam for a grade.

 

 

 

Week Three: 1/23 and 1/25: The Epic Cycle and the Centrality of Troy

 

I.                    Before the Epic Cycle: The First Heroes and Other Cities of Myth

 

  1. Perseus – Argos

1.       Gilgamesh?

  1. Herakles / Hercules – Argos
  2. Jason and the Argonauts

1.       Medea

  1. Theseus – Athens

1.       Hippolytus and Aphrodite

a.       The Potiphar’s Wife

 

  1. The Theory: Neo-Analysts

 

II.                 The Epic Cycle: The Central Heroes and Troy

 

A.     RESTART: The Theogony and Aphrodite

 

B.      Oedipus and his children and his children’s children and Thebes

 

C.     Peleus and Thetis and Aphrodite

 

D.    Achilles

1.       Hektor

2.       Penthisilea and the Amazons

3.       Paris and Aphrodite

 

E.     Ajax

1.       Odysseus and Athena

 

F.      AgameMNon

1.       ClyteMNestra

2.       Orestes

 

G.    Odysseus

1.       The Cyclops and Poseidon

2.       Athena vs. Poseidon and Athens

3.       108 Suitors

 

H.    Telegonus and Telemachus

1.       Penelope and Kirke

 

III.              After the Epic Cycle: The Last Hero and the Eternal City

  1. The Founding of Rome and Aeneas

1.       The Odyssey followed by the Iliad in half

 

  1. The Foundation of Rome and Odysseus?
  2. The Foundation of Rome and Romulus and Remus?

 

Homework:

Reading: Leeming 286-287 and selections from the Iliad (1, 18, 22)

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

Week Four: 1/30 and 2/1 The Iliad and MN and the gods

 

Homework:

Reading:  Leeming 89 – 116 and 167 - 185

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

 

Week Five: 2/6 and 2/8: Homer and the Homeric Question and the Performance of Myth

 

I.                    Exegesis of the Iliad and MN

 

II.                 Key Dates Ancient and Modern

 

A.     Wolfe

1.       Unitarians vs. Analysts

B.      Parry

C.     The Rest

 

III.              Homeric Composition

 

A.     Meter

B.      Formulae

C.     Type Scenes

 

IV.               The Story of the Odyssey

 

V.                 The Odyssey and Atrahasis and Utnapishtim and Noah

 

 

Homework:

Reading: selections from the Odyssey 1 and 2; and Leeming 265 - 267

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

 

 

Week Six: 2/13 and 2/15: The Odyssey and AgameMNON and ClyteMNestra

 

I.        Herakles is most at the heart of the Iliad but Agamemnon and Clytemnestra are at the heart of the Odyssey

 

II. The Plot

 

III. The Key Figures

 

IV.  The Structure:

Agamemnon

      The Apology and the Cyclops and the Wandering

                  Calapso Apo-Calypso

Kirke

The Katabasis and Achilles and Ajax and    

      Agamemnon

                                          Mother and Medusa

                              Kirke (Elpenor)

                  Cattle of the Sun = Calypso

      The Return and the Apology to Penelope

Agamemnon

 

See also Bruce Louden on the women-prohibition-etc. theme/type scene

     

 

Homework:

Reading: selections from the Odyssey 5, 9, 10 and Leeming 211-213 with 302 -305; 242 - 244

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

 

Week Seven:  2/20 and 2/22: The Odyssey Almost Concluded

 

I. The Cyclops Motif in Folklore

 

II. Frazer

 

III. Propp

 

IV. Freud and Rank

 

V. Levi-Strauss

 

VI.              Raglan

 

VII.           Campbell  

 

VIII.         Burkert

 

Homework:

Reading: selections from the Odyssey 11, 12, 13

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

*MIDTERM REVIEW DUE

 

Week Eight: 2/27 and 3/1: The Odyssey and The Old Myths Made New

 

I.   The Conclusion of the Odyssey

 

II. Introduction to tragedy

 

Reading: selections from the Odyssey 22 and 23; Medea part one

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

*MIDTERM EXAMINATION

 

Week Nine: 3/6 and 3/8: The Birth of Tragedy

 

I. Tragedy review

 

II. Aristotle on the Perfect Tragedy

 

Reading: finish Medea  and Leeming 290 - 293

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

SPRING BREAK

 

Week Ten: 3/20 and 3/22: Aphrodite Reprise

 

I. Medea and the Argonauts story

 

II. Aristotle Review

 

Reading:  Antigone and Leeming 232 – 234 and 271 - 273

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

Week Eleven: 3/27 and 3/29: Aristotle and the Birth of Theory

 

I.  Antigone and Thebes

 

Reading: selections from the Poetics and Leeming 117 – 164 (Archetype and Theory)

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 


Week Twelve: 4/3 and 4/5: The Hellenistic Age

 

I. Aristotle and the Perfect Tragedy Concluded

 

II. Introduction to the Hellenistic Age

 

III. Introduction to Apollodorus

 

 

 

Homework:

Reading: Leeming 203 -210; 220 -231; 235 – 241; 245 – 256 and Apollodorus on Perseus

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

 

Week Thirteen: 4/10 and 4/12: Herakles

 

I.  Apollodorus on Herakles

 

II. Theory: James Frazer’s Golden Bough

 

Homework:

Reading: Leeming 214 - 219  and Apollodorus on Herakles

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

*FINAL PROJECT DUE

 

Week Fourteen 4/17 and 4/19: Rome

 

I.        Roman History Overview

 

II. The Canonical Poets

 

A.     Catullus Wedding of Peleus and Thetis

http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/cat64.shtml

B. Lucretius

C. Vergil and the versions of the Aeneid Myth (see Google Books on Remus) and Varro

D. Ovid on Perseus

 

Homework:

Reading: Catullus Peleus and Thetis;  Leeming 69 - 84; start Campbell Myths to Live By

Writing: continue glossary of terms; a dictionary of names; and a chronology of dates; a collection of different definitions of myth

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exam Week  4/24 and 4/26