The Classical World in Global Context

Course Description

This seminar examines the life of ancient Greek and Roman literature in contemporary literature. We begin with a study of the influence of the classics on early-mid twentieth century western literature, such as Aeschylus’ Oresteia and Eugene O’Neill’s Mourning Becomes Electra, and move onto more complex phenomena such as the 'translation' and subversion of classical works by contemporary writers, including those whose cultures of origin are not construed as traditionally 'Western European.' For example, we examine Derek Walcott’s use of Homer in his construction of his epic poem of the Antilles, Rushdie’s use of the Orpheus legend in The Ground Beneath Her Feet , and the African-American adaptation of the Oedipus legend in “The Gospel at Colonus.”