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Introduction to Classical Mythology

Shadows of the Underworld: Death and Immortality in the Ancient Mediterranean
(3 credits)
Spring 2015
ENGL 243.001
T / Th 9.30 pm 10.45 pm
LA 4331

Professor:
Email Address:
Office:
Office Phone:
Office Hours:

Salvatore Pappalardo, Ph.D.

spappalardo@towson.edu
College of Liberal Arts Building LA 4350
(410) 704-3493
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2 pm 4 pm
Or by appointment

Course description:
From the University Catalog: The study of myth in selected works from Greek and Roman
literature. Gen Ed II.C.1.
Core Category 5: Arts & Humanities
Group II.C.1. Western Heritage: Arts & Humanities
Instructors Description:
What does it mean to be dead? Why are humans fascinated by the idea of immortality? What do
funerary rites and the public display of mourning reveal about the cultures performing such
rituals? We will attempt to answer these questions in the course of this semester by studying the
literature of the Ancient Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. The readings will start with The Epic
of Gilgamesh and the heros quest for immortality. The Egyptian Book of the Dead will offer
insights into the complex cosmology and view of the afterlife of Ancient Egyptians. Hesiods
Theogony introduces students to the Ancient Greek pantheon. Our reading of Homers Odyssey
emphasizes the pervasive fear of death of Archaic Greeks, still inexperienced seafarers, when
expanding their colonies in the Western Mediterranean. In the text, Odysseus famously rejects
the offer of immortality, and knowingly embarks upon a dangerous voyage to the underworld
before attempting to reach his native Ithaca. Aeschylus dramatizes the killing rage in a royal
family and the role that the Eumenides, chthonic spirits of the netherworld, play in the psychosocial order of classical Greece. Ovids Metamorphoses elect death and immortality as key
thematic units in the tales surrounding the rape of Proserpina and Orpheus descent to Dis.
Dantes Inferno will show how notions of Hell, the Christian underworld, are deeply indebted to
these classical models.

Specific English Department Learning Goals Adapted to this Section of the Course:
(1) READING:
Students will: understand the relevance of Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic cultures to
ancient mythology; study the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age; grasp the importance of the
prehistoric Agricultural Revolution; learn about ideas of death and immortality in the
Mesopotamian epic tradition, Ancient Egyptian culture, Homer and Archaic Greek society, Ovid
and the Rome of Augustus, Dante Alighieri and Medieval Florence; distinguish between
anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and therianthropic mythological figures, as well as Olympian and
chthonic deities; learn to appreciate the aesthetic and polysemic nature of a literary text, knowing
that multiple readings and interpretations are possible; analyze the rhetorical strategies
implemented through figures of speech, puns, and tropes; develop close reading skills by rereading passages that seem relevant to their understanding of the text, understand the formal
features and genre conventions underlying the text; relate the work to its cultural and historical
context; understand its ideological and political implications.
(2) WRITING:
Students will: take tests on dates and literary chronologies, identify passages in order to prepare
to write a formal academic essay in the future, presenting a strong thesis statement, and a cogent
argumentative structure subdivided in thematic paragraphs; impart a logical progression to their
line of reasoning; anticipate possible criticism and objections from the readership; use the
different genres as exemplary sources for convincing argumentations; offer interpretations of the
intended rhetorical effect (successful or otherwise) of a given figure of speech; provide ample
textual evidence and additional supporting materials for their personal interpretations; develop a
writing style that effectively follows scholarly writing techniques; train their rhetorical dexterity;
file papers to deadline.
(3) RESEARCHING:
Students will: demonstrate familiarity with methods of studying literature and culture across
national and linguistic boundaries; conduct independent research; learn how to utilize research
tools offered by the University Library; evaluate scholarship; master the ways in which a paper is
formatted and documented; engage in a formal conversation with literary scholars and cultural
critics.
(4) REFLECTING:
Students will: develop critical thinking skills; ponder the intricate questions that the texts of the
Western cultural and literary tradition pose; reflect on the complexities of the arguments
presented by the texts, meditate on how texts that are somewhat foreign to us both in time and
space have a pressing relevance in our everyday lives; cultivate a growing intellectual
curiosity; engender a life-long learning process that continues outside of the classroom and
beyond their college experience.
(5) INFORMATION LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETENCE:
Students will: use software as appropriate to writing and research; format their papers according
to a chosen standard (e.g. The MLA International Bibliography); learn how to retrieve books and
articles through the Interlibrary Loan System and how to access full-text articles; consult the
standard interdisciplinary search sources and indexes.
(6) GLOBAL AWARENESS:

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Students will: read texts originating in a variety of cultural and literary traditions; understand
different points of view; liberate themselves from the constraints of their own cultural
assumptions; acquire, through the comparative analysis of textual conventions, strategies of
representation and mechanisms of cultural production, familiarity with a variety of literary and
cultural traditions across national and linguistic boundaries, evaluating their nature, function and
value from a global perspective.
Classroom conduct policy:
Students are expected to respectfully behave toward the instructor and their classmates. No
laptops, cell phones, pagers, beepers and other electronic devices are allowed in class. The
use of cell phones (talking on your cell phone in class or text messaging) will affect your grade
negatively. For every second infraction, I will lower your final grade by one point. If, for a valid
reason, you need to use a laptop for note taking, please come and see me to discuss the issue.
Towson University Non-Discrimination policy:
Towson Universitys policies, programs and activities comply with federal and state laws and
regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin,
sex, disability and sexual orientation. For further information, contact the Towson University
Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, at 410-704-2360 or at www.towson.edu/odeo/
Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory and will be taken at the meetings. Students are expected to complete all
the readings assigned for the day, and to take active part in the class discussion.
Be in class on time. Tardiness will be noted and will affect your final grade. If you arrive late
three times, you will be penalized for one absence.
It is policy of the University to excuse the absences of students for the following reasons:
Illness or injury when the student is unable to attend class.
Religious observance where the nature of the observance prevents the student from attending
class.
Participation in University activities at the request of University authorities (e.g., Intercollegiate
Athletics, Forensics Team, Dance Company, etc.).
Compelling verifiable circumstances beyond the control of the student.
Students requesting an excused absence must provide documentation to the instructor two
weeks prior to the scheduled absence when known in advance, and as soon as possible when not
known in advance.
Absences that do not fall into any of the categories outlined above are unexcused and incur the
penalty.
Religiously observant students should indicate their need to be excused on religious holidays,
and these absences will be considered excused absences in accordance with university
regulations. Athletes needing to attend practice at certain times should officially inform me of
their situation beforehand; absences to attend practice will be considered excused absences.
Other excused absences are limited to family emergencies, transportation emergencies, health
emergencies and scheduled visits to doctors. Students should bring a note from their doctor.
Students needing to be excused for a long period for medical or other reasons must contact their

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college dean and have that dean notify all of their professors about the need for a long absence
from class. Unexcused absences: each student is allowed two unexcused absences for the
semester.
Late submission policy:
Students are expected to submit their work by the deadline. Late submissions will be penalized
by one full grade for every late day. The circumstances in which I accept a delayed submission
are the same as outlined in the university policy on excused absences (documented illness, injury,
religious observance etc.)
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students caught cheating will immediately receive a grade of F
in the course or assignment, depending on the severity of the case. The incident will be reported
to the Office of the Registrar. For definitions of cheating, please visit the following website:
http://inside.towson.edu/generalcampus/tupolicies/documents/03-01.00%20Student
%20Academic%20Integrity%20Policy.pdf
Accommodations:
If you need accommodation due to disability, please make an appointment to see me during
office hours. Please bring with you a statement from Disability Support Services (410-7042638) authorizing your accommodation.
Course Repeat Policy:
Students may not repeat a course more than once without prior permission of the
Academic Standards Committee.
Grading:
Grades will be keyed to the following scale: A (95-100), A- (90-94), B+ 87-89), B (84-86), B(80-83), C+ (77-79), C (74-76), D+ (70-73), D (60-69), F (59 and below). No C- grade.
Incomplete grades (I) will be given only for medical problems or a death in the family.
Attendance
Participation
4 tests

10%
10%
20% each

I reserve the right to make modifications to this syllabus and the content of this course in form of
addition and/or subtraction as I see fit.
Books to purchase:
The Epic of Gilgamesh. ISBN: 0140449191
The Egyptian Book of the Dead ISBN-13: 978-0140455502
Hesiod and Theognis. Theogony, Works and Days, Elegies. ISBN-10: 978-0140442839 ISBN-13:
978-0140442830
Homer. The Odyssey ISBN: 0140268863
Aeschylus. The Oresteia: Agamemnon; The Libation Bearers; The Eumenides. ISBN: 9780140443332

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Ovid. Metamorphoses ISBN: 978-0393925340
Dante. Inferno ISBN-13: 978-0553213393
Schedule of classes:
1/27/2015
Introduction to the course
1/29/2015
The Epic of Gilgamesh (pp. 1-62)
2/3/2015
The Epic of Gilgamesh (pp. 63-100)
2/5/2015
The Egyptian Book of the Dead Introduction (pp. 3-14, 21-49, 54-59)
Elena Cicarma. The Theriomorphism of Anubis
2/10/2015
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (pp. 130-143, 155-174, 185-188)
Karin Boehleke. Pre-Tutankhamun Egyptian Revivalism in Dress
2/12/2015
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (pp. 297-304, 319-335)
Mary-Ann Pouls Wegner. Gateway to the Netherworld
2/17/2015
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (pp. 359-371, 480-514)
Jana Jones et alii. Evidence for Prehistoric Origins of Egyptian Mummification in Late
Neolithic Burials
2/19/2015
Hesiod. Theogony
Test 1
2/24/2015
Homer. The Odyssey Books I, II, and III
Sven-Tage Teodorsson. Eastern Literacy, Greek Alphabet, and Homer
2/26/2015
Homer. The Odyssey Books IV and V
3/3/2015
Homer. The Odyssey Books IX and X

3/5/2015
Homer. The Odyssey Books XI and XII
3/10/2015
Homer. The Odyssey Books XIX, XX, and XXI
3/12//2015
Homer. The Odyssey XXII, XXIII, and XXIV
3/15 3/22/2015 Spring Break
3/24/2015
Aeschylus. Agamemnon
3/26/2015
Aeschylus. The Libation Bearers, The Eumenides
Test 2
3/31/2015
Ovid. Metamorphoses Books I, II and III
4/2/2015
Ovid. Metamorphoses Books IV and V
4/7/2015
Ovid. Metamorphoses Books VII and VIII
4/9/2015
Ovid. Metamorphoses Books IX and X
4/14/2015
Ovid. Metamorphoses Books XI and XII
4/16/2015
Ovid. Metamorphoses Books XIII, XIV and XV
Test 3
4/21/2015
Dante. Inferno I, II, and III
4/23/2015
Dante. Inferno IV, V, and VI
4/28/2015
Dante. Inferno XX, XXI, XXII, and XXIII

4/30/2015
Dante. Inferno XXIV, XXV, and XXVI
5/5/2015
Dante. Inferno XXX, XXXI, and XXXII
5/7/2015
Dante. Inferno XXXIII and XXXIV
5/12/2015
Final discussion
5/14/2015
Final Examination: 8 am to 10 am