Literature 162. Homer and Beyond: Theory and Comparative Methods in Studying Oral Traditions

Gregory Nagy
Genres, forms, and themes of oral traditions in poetry and prose. Theories of performance and composition. Comparative metrical and formulaic analysis. Students are free to select non-Greek traditions as their focus of research, such as medieval French lays, Indic fables, Gregorian Chant, early Italian opera, Apache female initiation songs, Latin prosimetrum narratives, etc.

Note: Undergraduate students are welcome - including freshmen. Knowledge of Greek not required. Only Classics Department graduate students who take the course for credit will work on original Greek texts.