This course surveys the traditions of classical literature exemplified by the masterworks of Greek and Roman authors. The choice of readings (in English translation) may vary from semester to semester, but the curriculum typically covers mythological epic (Homer, Virgil, and Ovid); tragedy (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Seneca); and comedy (Aristophanes and Plautus). The course may also examine minor poetic genres such as lyric, elegy, and satire; or the development of prose genres such as historiography, philosophical dialogue, rhetoric and oratory, and biography. The principal objective of CAMS 1 is to acquire knowledge of the story world of Greek and Roman literature, whose characters include the gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines of classical mythology. A second objective is to understand the rules that govern the genres of Greek and Roman literature. Third, students learn how to interpret classical literature within its social and historical context as well as through the application of both ancient and modern literary theory. CAMS 1 is an introductory course that may be credited toward every Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies major, option, and minor. CAMS 1 meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements and is a General Education course in the Humanities (GH).
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