In this course, we will explore the coming of age of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad and of Antigone in Sophocles’ play of the same name. Both of these characters face challenging crises: Achilles – the Trojan War and Antigone – the civil war at Thebes. Through these two protagonists, we will explore what a mature human being looks like, what the epic and tragic reenactments of crises more than 2500 years in the past continue to teach us about coping with the traumas of the present, how humanity has always succeeded in transforming suffering through writing and creativity, how reconciliation and understanding arise from unbearable loss. The chosen texts will allow us to ponder these and many other questions during class discussions and through writing assignments. This course fulfills the first-year writing requirement. Coursework will include regular evidence-based writing assignments of varying length and type with substantive revisions (amounting to a total of 18 pages), as well as in-class writing workshops based on peer review.

Course Requirements:

25 % Close reading assignments: 1 @ 5%, 2 @ 10% each (about a page each)

50 % Essays: 1 @ 10% (3 pages), 1 @ 15% (5 pages); 1 @ 25% (7 pages)

25 % Class preparation and participation

Intended Audience:

freshmen. Does not require prior knowledge of subject, but having read Homer's Iliad in advance of the course is a great advantage

Class Format:

two meetings per week