In this course we’ll read a series of works from Greco-Roman antiquity long held to be among the “Great Books” of world literature. We’ll explore the ways in which these texts can still speak to us today because of their remarkably intense focus on central questions of human existence, such as: What makes you who you are? What makes a good life? What is justice? What is your relation to people different from yourself, whether because of their ethnicity, class, or gender? At the same time, however, we’ll ask why these texts in particular became “Great Books” because of the answers they provide to these questions, and whether these answers are still our answers. Students will, in addition, have the opportunity to write about modern books and films that are related to the ancient texts but come from diverse perspectives and national traditions.

Intended Audience:

Honors Students

Class Format:

2 one hour lectures and 2 one hour discussion sections per week.

As a DC (Distance due to COVID) course, all aspects of this course will be fully compatible with remote online learning.

The weekly lectures for this course will be recorded and made available asynchronously. We will also have biweekly discussion section that require synchronous participation.