Global Mythologies: Greece and Rome

Ancient Romans adopted and adapted Greek stories, and, over centuries of expansion, carried them to peoples and cultures across Europe and around the Mediterranean. Greco-Roman mythology still permeates Western language, literature, art, and culture. What makes these stories so powerful? Knowledge of these ancient stories not only brings a deeper understanding of the classical world but also empowers us to identify and follow the many allusions to this mythology that appear across English literature and European art. In this course, we will explore ancient sources and modern retellings, to gain a foundational understanding of the Greco-Roman myths and figures, before advancing into literature and art to identify and unpack allusions and explain their continued importance in our lives. Time commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 6 sessions over 12 weeks. Course Overview Learning Objectives: Analyze Greek and Roman myths and identify tropes, archetypes, and perspectives Construct arguments about their relevance to and persistence in western culture Compare Greek and Roman myths with their later literary and artistic representations Create a story or poem retelling a classical story or Greco-Roman myth About Advanced Enrichment Courses These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges. The content in Global Mythologies: Greece and Rome overlaps with the CTY course Young Readers Series: Greek Myths Revisited. Students who have already taken Young Readers Series: Greek Myths Revisited may wish to consult with an enrollment advisor before enrolling in this course