Topic One: Greek Mythology Today

Topic One (2010/9/13~9/20): 

 Is Greek Mythology still
popular nowadays?

Greek mythology is pretty much alive today.  If we pay close attention to what we have been reading and watching, we would be able to identify characters, creatures, names, motifs, and story plot drawn from Greek mythology.  Let me just give a few examples here.

(1) In Happy Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book Two in the Harry Potter series),  Hermione and Colin were both petrified after looking into the eyes of the snake through reflections:  Hermione saw the image on the mirror, while Colin looked at the creature through his camera's lens. 

Apparently, J.K. Rowling had Medusa in mind when conferring the petrifying ability on the snake: In Greek mythology, the snake-haired Medusa was able to turn everything in sight into a stone.  Rowling adapted the idea and echoed Perseus' attempt to behead Medusa by looking at the reflection on the shield!

(2) There are many movie adaptations from novels dwelling on classical Greek materials.  For example, the movies entitled "Odyssey," "Helen of Troy," and "Troy" (in which Brad Pitt led the cast).

Even in the great hit "Avatar," we also can also find the traces of Greek presence:  The name of the moon "Pandora" used to be the name for the first woman in Greek mythology. The idiom "Pandora's box," meaning "a source of troubles and misfortunes," is very fitting for the events to come in the sequels of  the movie "Avatar."

(3) During the summer vacation 2010, the movie entitled "Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief," adapted from the first book of Percy Jackson series, was in the theater worldwide. This is another example of the ever-presence of Greek mythology.

Discussion topics:
 (Please focus on one of these questions.) 




1. Why are children and teenagers still fascinated by Greek mythology? 
2. Are adults also drawn to classical Greek literature, e.g., the Iliad and the Odyssey?
3. Why do writers still draw inspirations from Greek myths and tales in their creation of new stories?
4. Can we imagine our modern world deprived of Greek mythology?
5. Why is Greek mythology important in learning English language and western culture?

Intro to Western Lit~syllabus課程大綱與進度

Introduction to Western Literature and Culture (2010.9)



西洋文學文化導讀



Instructor: Vinia 


I. Websites associated with this course本課程相關網站:


(1) 每週議題討論,上網發表(2% X 16=32%). On-line Weekly discussions: Please upload your comments to this blog every week. 2% X 16 weeks = 32%


http://westernliterature2010fall.blogspot.com


(2) 補充講義(希臘篇,基督教篇). Supplemental materials about Greek and Christian literature/cultures, including allusions can be found in these blogs:


(希臘篇Greek Chapter)
http://vinia-mythology.blogspot.com


(基督教篇Christian Chapter)
http://vinia-christianity.blogspot.com


(3) 與希臘神話及猶太教,基督教相關的名畫Famous paintings related to Greek mythology, Judaism, and Christianity can be found in this blog:


http://vinia-art-education-children.blogspot.com


(4) 考古題 Archive for old exam questions:


http://xuite.net/western.literature


(5) NTUT elearning平台: http://elearning.ntut.edu.tw


991西洋文學導讀 138624, 選  ”課程公告”


972 兒童與青少年文學, 選 ”開始上課”






II. What literary texts are we going to read in this class?


1. Unveiling Greek Mythology I and II


2. Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey


3. Stories from The Old Testament and The New Testament






III. What are the requirements of this class?


1. Attendance: Each absence (w/o proper reasons) costs 5%, four un-permitted absences STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER, i.e., the first week, will lead to FAILURE in this course. Clinic receipts, parents’ letters, and NTUT class adviser’s proof are accepted.


2. Online Weekly discussions: 2% X 16 = 32%


Weekly quizzes in the class: 3% X 16 = 48%


Mid-term examination (10%): a test on the Greek culture and literature


Final exam (10%): an exam on Biblical literature and Hebrew culture






IV. Syllabus


(1) Introduction to the history of western civilization;


An evaluation of students’ western cultural background knowledge


(2)Unveiling Greek Mythology I, pp. 1-40.


Visual/audio material: Helen of Troy I


(3) Unveiling Greek Mythology I. pp. 42-81


Visual/audio material: Helen of Troy II


(4)Unveiling Greek Mythology I, pp. 82-118


Visual/audio material: The Odyssey I


(5) Unveiling Greek Mythology II, pp. 2-43


Visual/audio material: The Odyssey II


(6)Unveiling Greek Mythology II, pp. 44-85


Visual/audio material: Alexander the Great I


(7) Unveiling Greek Mythology II, pp. 86-131


Visual/audio material: Alexander the Great II


(8)Wrapping-up of Greek mythology and culture


(9) In-class mid-term examination


(10) Introduction to the Biblical World, Stories from The Old Testament 1


An evaluation of students’ cultural background knowledge of Christianity


(11) Stories from the Old Testament 2


Visual/audio material: Jerusalem-City of Heaven / The Passion


(12) Stories from The Old Testament 3


Visual/audio material: Forbidden Goddess


(13) Stories fromThe Old Testament 4


Visual/audio material: Who Was Moses?


(14) Stories from The Old Testament 1


Visual/audio material: Who Killed Jesus? / The Real Mary Magdalene


(15) Stories from The New Testament 2


Visual/audio material: The Disciples / Peter the Rock


(16) Stories from The New Testament 3


Visual/audio material: Joseph and His Multi-colored Coat /


Joshua and the Battle of Jericho


(17) Stories from The New Testament 4


Visual/audio material: Herod and the Bethlehem Massacre / David & Goliath


(18) Final exam week: in-class final exam on Biblical literature/culture

Topic Two: The Story of Botticelli's "La Primavera"

Topic Two (2010/9/20~9/27): Botticelli's "La Pimavera"

"La Primavera" ("The Spring Time")

"The Birth of Venus"

The painter of these two paintings:

Sandro Botticelli (1445~1510) is an Italian painter of the Florentine School during the early Renaissance.

Topics for discussions:

(1) Can you identify the mythological figures portrayed in "La Primavera"? 

(2) What values or attributes does each character stand for?

(3) What is the main theme of this painting?

(4) What is the story told in this painting?