3 credits
Fall 2026 Lecture Upper DivisionData from last updated 4/10/2026
Fall 2026
Fall 2026 Instructors:
Study of the epic in four ancient cultures, with emphasis on its structure, nature, and social functions. Readings may include Gilgamesh, Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, Beowulf, Tain, Mahabharata, and others.
Learning Outcomes1Gain an enhanced understanding of the nature and development of the genre of epic through close reading of representative samples of the genre from different ancient cultures.
2Ability to appreciate and intelligently discuss major themes in epic as they relate to both ancient and modern views of the heroic.
3Ability to identify specific examples of the influence of ancient epic on the literature of the later western world.
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