• The Iliad of Homer. Transl. by R. Lattimore, U. of Chicago Press, 1951/later.
• The Odyssey of Homer. Transl. by R. Lattimore, Harper Perennial, 1965/after.
• The Aeneid of Virgil. Transl. by A. Mandelbaum, Bantam Books, 1972.

• Hesiod, Theogony; Works and Days. Transl. by M. L. West. Oxford U.P., 1988.
• Ovid, Metamorphoses. Transl. by A. D. Melville. Oxford U.P., 1986.

• General features of epic poetry, including its:
• Metrics.
• Major sub-genres.
• Common themes and types.
• Stylistic properties.
• Historic developments.

Etc.
• The nature and origin of the Iliad and the Odyssey (the "Homeric question").
• The poetic techniques; structure; artistic appeal and intrinsic value of the Homeric poems.
• The epic cycles; the Trojan cycle as the context of the Homeric poems.
• Other major epic poems of Greek literature.
• Roman epic poetry.
• Virgil's Aeneid - the monumental declaration of the Roman spirit.
• Ovid's Metamorphoses - the panorama of classical mythic stories based on the theme of love and transformation.
• The impact of Greek and Roman epic on the Western literary tradition.

Format: The class time will be divided, in various proportions, between lectures and discussion, where the students' participation is expected, encouraged and appreciated. Students are invited to come up with questions, to pinpoint problems, to share personal insights, to make comparisons between the classical data and those of other cultures, etc. Class sessions will occasionally be supplemented by visual data on classical history.

Students' Responsibilities:

• Attendance:  Since Classics 340 is organized on the basis of lectures and in-class discussion (cf. above), there is no substitute for attendance.  For the record, attendance will be taken every class. Both attendance and attention at all classes are essential for successful completion of the course (i.e. any grade above D).
• Attentive and considerate class conduct: Please come to class on time; do not bring food or drinks, and do not socialize in class. Food consumption or talking during a lecture disrupts the class, interferes with your attentiveness and distracts your neighbors.
• Preparation and review: Students' overall assignment is to have read the relevant texts in preparation to the class discussion of the particular author/ work. (See the Course Schedule.) Going through your readings prior to the day when the topic is covered in class will  allow the lecture/ discussion to make sense. After a particular topic has been covered, students should go over their class notes and the chapter in the textbook once again, to solidify their knowledge and understanding of the material.  (This is also an excellent preparation for exams and makes "cramming" unnecessary.)  Students are responsible for all materials dealt with in class and for the readings assigned.
• Taking tests: There will be three intermediate (non-cumulative) tests of 30 minutes each and the Final exam (comprehensive test). All tests have to be taken at their scheduled times. Students with learning disabilities who want to take exams at the Disabilities Support Service Office must provide me with a copy of the Faculty Contact Sheet, available from Disability Support Services, by the end of the second week of the semester, and with the Test Form no later than five working days before an exam.
• Term paper: A term paper on the topics of student's choice, 2-3 pages long, is to be submitted by the last week of the course. General requirements for the term paper:
• Paper must have the title; the name of its author; an indication of the course and date.
• Pages must be numbered.
• Minimum three bibliographic entrees must accompany the discussion.
• Type your bibliography on the last page of your paper. Suggested bibliography format:
• Give the alphabetical list of the quoted classical authors first. (Author; Work; Translator; Editor; Year.)
• Give the alphabetical list of the quoted modern authors. (Last name; First name/ initial; Title of the book/ article; Publisher/ journal; Year of publication.
• Throughout the text of your paper, refer to authors quoted:
• Modern authors/ researchers: Last name, Year of publication, Page quoted.
• Classical authors: Name, Title of the work, Standard numerical identification of the chapter/ paragraph quoted.

Grading:

Weighted grade ingredients: Intermediate tests average - 50% Final exam - 20% Paper - 20% PAPER GRADING INGREDIENTS: Title present 5% Pages numbered 5% Bibliography appended 10% Correct language: spelling, syntax, punctuation 10% Pertinence to the subject of the course 10% Technique of reference: consistent, systematic, correct 10% Use of the primary sources 10% General familiarity with the subject demonstrated 10% Organization 15% Argument 15% Class participation - 10%

Breakdown according to percentages: 0-59%   = F 60-69% =  D 70-77% =  C 78-79% =  C+ 80-82% = B- 83-87% = B 88-89% = B+ 90-92% = A- 93-100% = A

A grade of Incomplete will be given only in accordance with University regulations. The University allows only an instructor's legitimate error as the basis for changing a course grade after it has been submitted to the registrar's office. No later work can therefore be accepted to improve a grade.

Honor System: George Mason University participates in an honor system which has existed in Virginia since 1842. The GMU Honor Code, to which you have agreed to conform with your application for admission to the university, provides that a student's word is a declaration of good faith acceptable as truth in all academic matters.  Specifically, the Honor Code applies to all your written work submitted for a grade.  By putting your name to your exam you certify that you are the only person who has produced the work you hand in.  Students are expected, but faculty is required to report violations of the Honor Code to the university's Honor Committee. If you are caught, do not expect or ask for forgiveness. Your enrollment in this class constitutes your acknowledgment that you have received fair warning that cheating, plagiarism, and other kinds of intellectual dishonesty are unacceptable. For details of the Honor System and Code consult the appropriate pages in the current Undergraduate Catalog.

A Final Note: If I can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. You are welcome to stop by my office and chat about the field of Classical Studies and/or Humanities in general. And take a look sometime at the GMU Classical Studies internet Homepage at http://patriot.net/~lillard/cp/ with information on the program and a wealth of links to classical and related sites all over the world (museums, universities, images, texts, etc.)