Course overview
This course explores what myths are and which methods of interpretation can assist in trying to understand them better: myths are ways to grapple with life's mysteries and problems by telling stories. The course provides insight into the definition of myth and the changing role of myth and mythical thought in Greek and Egyptian society. Beginning with the Egyptian gods, myths, and rituals, we go on to explore the Greek Olympians and the different ways in which the Trojan war was retold and reimagined across the centuries, in various forms of literature and art.
- What Is Myth
- Seeking Meaning In Myth
- Myth Today
Course learning outcomes
- Evaluate and explain the ways in which Classical myth functioned within ancient Egyptian and Greek societies and contributed to their social structures and ways of thought
- Compare Classical Greek mythological narratives with the mythological narratives of Egypt
- Deliver coherently and logically argued written material which has a scholarly approach to analysis and presentation of ideas
- Discuss the ways in which Greek myths are presented differently in different genres
- Analyse, evaluate and compare ancient (’primary’) literary evidence and modern (‘secondary’) theories and reconstructions, both on myths and on literature