FYS 1214 - Homeric Myths and Heroes

Credits: 4.0
The very first works of Western literature-the epic masterpieces of the Greek poet Homer are set in a world of myth and legend, but they ask questions that continue to engage us today. Through the “Iliad” and its hero Archilles, Homer reveals war as a brutal arena in which men fight for honor and glory, for city and survival, under the watchful eyes of the gods. In the wanderings of Odysseus from the battlefields of Troy to the island of Ithaca, the “Odyssey” portrays the journey that is life itself and the importance of home and family to human identity. This course - for students interested in mythology, literature, history and philosophy - will consider how these ancient stories speak to the issues of the twenty-first century: war and peace, male and female, self and “other.” And it will look at the influence these universal themes continue to have on modern literature, movies and popular culture.
Offered: Fall only, on demand
McDaniel Plan: First-Year Seminar