Ancient Drama

This course will introduce students to hallmark works of dramatic literature in the western canon.  We will consider the gendered, aged, sociopolitical, and artistic aspects of drama in the ancient Greco-Roman world, and discuss the difference and similarities between ancient drama and modern art forms, which may include films, stageplays, social media posts, and spoken word.  Students will also benefit from this course in the following ways: the ability to analyze and discuss texts critically; to distinguish meaning from form; to understand the relationship between ancient drama and other ancient art forms, such as visual art; to understand the relationship between ancient Greek and Roman culture and the modern world both thematically and formally; and to discuss thoughtfully and carefully larger relevant issues in both life and literature: speech, death, power and oppression, heroism, gender and family dynamics, and the relationship between words, meanings, and actions.