《希腊罗马神话》课程教学大纲

第页《希腊罗马神话》课程教学大纲课程名称：希腊罗马神话

课程类别：选修课适用专业：非英语专业

考核方式：考查总学时、学分：

68

学时

4

学分

其中实践学时：

学时一、课程教学目的本课程融故事欣赏与文化解读为一体，通过系统完整的内容介绍，旨在提高学生的英语阅读能力和文学文化鉴赏水平，增进学生对西方文化精神的解读，帮助学生逐渐形成批判性思维习惯，并使之对宇宙自然世界和人类本我达到新的认知。二、课程教学要求1.Toenablethelearners,throughreadingthemythsandhavingfunwiththem,togainexposuretosomeofthemajorGreco-Romanmythswhichhaveshapedwesterncultureandthewaywesternpeoplethink;2.Toincreaseintellectualmaturationandclarificationoflearners’ownvaluesthroughthestudyofideasandattitudesmanifestedinwesternmythsandthroughacomparativestudywiththoseofourownnationandepoch;3.Tohelpcultivateinlearnersaculturalreceptivitybyencouragingtheircriticalthinkingandculturalreading;4.Tohelplearnersbetterunderstandtheenigmawecalllifethroughdiscussingandevaluatingthewaysmythsshapehumanconsciousnessandbehavior.三、先修课程大学英语三四册四、课程教学重、难点重点介绍神话的定义和主要阅读方法，以及希腊罗马生简史，旨在帮助学生建立正确的神话观，激发学生学习的兴趣和积极性。五、课程教学方法与教学手段学生在课前独立熟悉课文，把握内容，完成基本的阅读任务。教师课上进行系统的内容梳理，对文本所蕴含的一些人文理念和精神做必要的文化解读；同时补充大量相关的课下文学阅读材料。在充份的课下阅读的基础上，学生在课上进行广泛的小组讨论和汇报，以期获得认识上的飞跃和思维的开拓。六、课程教学内容Semester1Introduction（4学时）1．教学内容(1)DefinitionofMythology(2)CommonApproachestoMythology(3)Greco-RomanMythology:ClassicandPopular2．重、难点提示WhystudyGreco-Romanmythology?Whatismythology?Howtoapproachmythology?GreekMythologyUnit

one:

MythsofUniverseCreation（6学时）1．教学内容AccountfromHesiod’s

TheogonyThePelasgianCreationMythTheHomeric-OrphicCreationMythsAccountfrom

Metamorphoses

byOvidAccountofMythopoeiaHinduCreationMythChineseCreationMyth2．重、难点提示Whatarethesimilaritiesoftheuniversecreationmythsinthisunit?

Listthebasicelementscommontomostofthem.WhatarethescientificexplanationsofChaosandbeginningoftheuniverse?DosomeresearchandtrytorelatethedifferentversionstotheBigBangtheoryandDarwin’sevolutiontheory?Whatpsychoanalyticalmotifscanyoufindinthemyths?Discussthemeaningsof“Chaos”and“Eros”accordingtoFreudiantheoriesoftheunconsciousandsexuality.Inwhatwaydoesthecreationmythofanationorraceorregionhelprevealitsworldview,lifestyleandcustoms?Unit

two:

FiveAgesofMan（6学时）1．教学内容TheFiveAgesofMankindHesiod’sVersionTheGoldenAgeTheSilverAgeTheBronzeAgeTheHeroicAgeTheironAgeAlienationoftheHumanfromTheDivinePrometheusandMankindPandora’sBoxTheDeucalionDelugeandHumanCreation2．重、难点提示WhatpictureofhistoricaldevelopmentdoyougetfromtheaccountoftheFiveAges?

DoyouagreewithHesiod?Why,orwhynot?WhatroledidPrometheusplayintheprimalhistoryofmankind?WhatculturalvaluedoesthePrometheanfirehaveinthehistoryofhumancivilization?PandoraisoftenregardedasEve,thefirstwomanintheBible.InwhatwaydoessheresembleEveanddifferfromher?Howdoyoudefendherfromafeministpointofview?Whatdoesitmeanthat“hope”aloneremainsinPandora’sjar/box?

Whatisthesignificanceof

“hope”?Unit

three:

TitanicandOlympianGenealogy（4学时）1．教学内容ASurveyoftheDivineFamilyUranusandCronusGaia’sChildrenCronusandZeusTitanomachyTheOlympianFamilyTheFamilytreeMajorOlympiansMinorGodsandGoddessesandDemigods2．重、难点提示WhatpsychoanalyticalmotifscanbefoundinthebirthstoriesofCronusandZeus?WhatroledidMother(GaiaandRhea)playinthebirthstoryofCronusandZeus?HowdoyouinterpretthewarbetweentheTitansand

theOlympians?Inwhatspecificwaysdotheoldandthenewdivinefamiliesresembleahumanfamily?Whatcharacteristicsofhumanitydothegodsandgoddesseshave?Listsomeandcommentontheirmeaningstohumannatureandlife.Unit

four:

MajorOlympianDeities(I)(6学时）1．教学内容ZeusKingofGodsandGoddessesZeusandHeraZeusandHisMortalLoversZeus’ChildrenApolloBirthofApolloTheOracleofDelphiApollo’sLoveMusicalContestsDionysus

BirthofDionysusTheWanderingsofDionysusTheDionysia2．重、难点提示HowdoyouinterpretZeus’seductionofgoddessesandmortalwomen?Whydidhesometimeschangeintotheformofananimalinhisseduction?WhatpossiblereasonsaccountforApollo’spatheticloveexperience?

Isitduetohisnatureorcharacter?WhydoesthemythpresentDionysusasatwice-borngod?Isitassociatedwithagricultureorculture/cultivationofvine?Whatarethesocial,political,religiousandpsychologicalconceptsoftheDionysia?Whatsimilaritiesdogodsandhumansshareincommon?Analyzethethreegodsasbothgodandman,andfindtheirdisparities.Unit

five:

MajorOlympianDeities(II)(6学时）1．教学内容Hera

QueenoftheHeavensStrifebetweenHeraandZeusAbilityofParthenogenesisStereotypeofaNaggingandJealousWifeAphrodite

BirthandMarriageStereotypeofMistressAphroditeandAdonisAthena

BirthofAthenaNatureofAthenaAthenaandAthensContestwithArachne2．重、难点提示WhatdoestheOlympiantransitionfrompair-rulerreigntosingle-rulerreignsymbolize?WhatisyourcommentonHera’spersecutionofZeus’loversandextramaritalchildren?HowdoesAphrodite’sbirthcorrespondwithherimageasGoddessofLoveandBeauty?Ofthetwoversionsofherbirth,whichdoyouprefer?

Why?HowdoyouinterpretAthena’sbirthfromherfather’shead?FinalExam(2学时）SemesterTwoUnit

six:

GreekHeroes(I)(4学时）1．教学内容PerseusBirthofPerseusBeheadingofMedusa,theGorgonRescueofAndromedaFulfillingtheprophecyHeraclesBirthofHeraclesTwelveLaborsofHeraclesHeracles’loveanddeathTwelfthlabor:fetchingCerberus2．重、难点提示Howdoyouinterpretmen’sbeingturnedintostonesbyjusttakingaglanceattheheadofMedusa?WhatsimilarityanddifferencedoyoufindbetweenPerseus’beheadingofMedusaandCronus’castrationofUranus?ItissaidthatPerseuswasthemostperfectGreekheroinmyths.Towhatextentdoyouagree?Whatwerehismainfeatures?WhatwerethestrengthsandweaknessesofHeracles?WhatmadehimthemostimportantorrepresentativeheroinGreekmyths?HeracleschosetotakethepathofVirtueandbecomeimmortal.WhatdoesittellusabouttheheroismofancientGreece?ApplyPropp’sstructure(seeIntroduction:CommonApproachestoMythology:6)toastructuralstudyofPerseus’adventure.Unit

seven:

GreekHeroes(II)(4学时）1．教学内容TheseusBirthandmeetingthefatherKillingoftheMinotaurTheseus’loveOtheradventuresanddeathJasonThegoldenfleeceUsurpationoftheThronebyPeliasThetriptoColchisSeizureofthefleeceReturntoGreeceanddeathofPeliasThetragicendofmarriage2．重、难点提示WhatmadeTheseusagreathero?HowdoyoulookatTheseusasaman?HowdoyouinterpretthekillingoftheMinotaurinthelabyrinth?WhattypeofherowasJason?DoyouagreewiththeopinionthatJason’stragedybeganwhenhisquestforgloryatlastyieldedtoadesireforpower,wealthandstatus?

Whyorwhynot?MedeahasbeenknownasatypicaltragicheroineinWesternliterature.Whatkindofwomanwasshe?Wasshejustifiedinwhatshedid?Unit

eight:

TheTrojanWarSaga:

TheIliad

(6学时）1．教学内容Before

TheIliadTheIliadTheWrathofAchillesTheWarDuringtheTruceIntheBattlefieldAchillesBackintheWarTheDeathofHectorAfter

TheIliad2．重、难点提示WhatwasthepoliticalandculturalsignificanceoftheTrojanWar?

Wasitamerewarfoughtoverawoman?DiomedesandPatrocluswerebothgreatfighters—Diomedeseventookonseveralgodsinbattleandwon—butneitherwasconsideredasextraordinaryasAchillesandHector.WhatmadeAchillesandHectordifferent?HowdoyouunderstandtheheroiccodeinTheIliad?Whatwastheroleoffateinthewar?Couldhumanbeingsdefyit?Couldgodsmanipulateit?Whatcanyouinferfromtherelationshipbetweenfateandhumanbeingsandthegods?Examinethestatusofwomen,bothGreekandTrojan,in

TheIliad.

Whatwastheirroleinfamilyandsociety?Unit

nine:

TheTrojanWarSaga:

TheOdyssey

(6学时）1．教学内容The

OdysseyTelemachus’SearchfortheFatherTheWanderingontheSeaTheFateoftheSuitorsAfter

TheOdyssey2．重、难点提示Odysseusmadehisfamebyhisjourney,i.e.odyssey.Whatwasspecialabouthisjourney?CompareandcontrastTelemachus’journeywiththatofOdysseus.Howdidtheyoungerman’sexperienceenablehimtogrow?ItissaidthatHomerwrote

TheOdyssey

inamucholderage.Asthemajorhero,inwhatwaywasOdysseusdifferentfromtheearlierheroeslikeAchilles,HectorandHeracles?Analyzetherolesfemalecharactersplayedin

TheOdyssey

andcomparethemwiththosein

TheIliad.Unit

ten:

RomanMythology

(4学时）1．教学内容MajorRomanDeitiesJupiterMarsJanusVestaNativeRomanMythsRomulusandRemusTheRapeoftheSabineWomenTheHoratiiCloeliaOvid’sRomanMyth:

MetamorphosesPhaethon:QuestfortheImpossiblePyramusandThisbe:LoveLostbyMistakeMercuryandBattus:FaithfultoOne’sPromiseDeificationofJuliusCaesar；2．重、难点提示HowwasRomanmythologydeveloped?WhatarethemostimportantdifferencesbetweenGreekandRomanmyths?TheRomansborrowedGreekmythsbutchangedthemythstheyborrowedtoreflecttheirownvaluesandideas.

Howdidtheyachievethis?WhatisthesignificanceofOvid’sMetamorphosesinourunderstandingofnatureandlife?WhatmessageisconveyedinthestoryofMercuryandBattus?Unit

eleven:

Romanfoundation:

TheAeneid

(4学时）1．教学内容The

AeneidThefateofAeneasAdventurousWanderingsTheUnderworldTheWarfortheLatiumAfter

TheAeneid

2．重、难点提示Manypeoplesaythat

TheAeneid

isaperfectcombinationofHomer’stwoepicsinnarrativestructure.

Doyouagree?Giveyourreasons.TakeAeneasasamodel.WhatisyourideaofRomanheroism?Listasmanyqualitiesasyoucan.WhatarethesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthecodesofGreekandRomanheroism?Fromfeministpointofview,whatliterarymotifdoyoufindinVirgil’s

TheAeneid,especiallyinthecasesofCreusaandDido?ReadcarefullytheUnderworldsection.WhatdifferencesdoyoufindbetweentheGreekversionandtheRomanversion?Unit

twelve:

Love:arecurringthemeinmythology

(4学时）1．教学内容Aristophanes’DefinitionofLoveCupid(Amor/Eros)andPsyche(Soul)EchoandNarcissusTheAbductionofGanymedeApolloandHyacinthusOedipus

；2．重、难点提示WhatistheessenceofAristophanes’accountofLove?Doesithelpusbetterunderstandhumansexuality(homosexuality,heterosexualityandbisexuality)inourpresent-daylife?

WhyishisLoveamaledeity?TheloveofCupidandPsycheissaidtobeoneofthemostmeaningfulandintriguingstories.Whatcommonfeatures(orrather,problems)doyoufindintermsofloveandmarriage?HowdoyouunderstandtheprophecytheseerTeiresiasmade:“Narcissuswilllivetoaripeoldage,providedthatheneverknowshimself