How well do we know the tale of the long wanderings of Odysseus as he returned home from the Trojan War? In this course we will accompany Odysseus through the text of Homer’s Odyssey, as he encounters awesome cyclopes, intimidating goddesses, enchanting nymphs, lotus eaters, and the shades of the dead. We will explore the creation of Greek epic poetry, and its transmission and reception from ancient times to the present. We will consider some of the great themes evoked by the Odyssey, including attitudes to home, hospitality to strangers, the status of women, and the horrors of war. Along the way, we will hear some of the most compelling, thought-provoking and fantastic stories of Odysseus’ long journey home, giving you a rounded view of the significance of Homer’s epic. Classes will involve readings of extracts, contextualising lectures, and group disucssion.
Course aim
An opportunity to get to know one of the most important stories in Western literature: Homer's Odyssey. You will understand the stories told in the Odyssey, the theories about the creation of this ancient epic poem, and its continuing relevance.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This course is for a group of around 15 students studying in a live video-learning platform conference and an online digital learning environment platform from the comfort of your own home.
- No skills or experience needed
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Understand the social and historical context of the creation of the Odyssey
- Identify common themes in epic poetry
- Discuss the relevance and meaning of famous episodes from Greek mythology
- Develop skills in expressing your opinions based on the evidence in the texts.
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You may be asked to undertake additional work in your own time to support your learning
- You will be encouraged to read The Odyssey over the ten weeks of the course, but extracts and summaries will be provided for students who cannot do so.
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
- You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- You will also need access to the internet outside of your sessions. You could do this using a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer (at home or through a library etc.).
- You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You may wish to buy a copy of The Odyssey. We will mainly be referring to the recent translation by Emily Wilson (published by Norton, 2018), but other editions are acceptable.
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- You will have access to course resources and links to wider learning through the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- No pre reading is required but research on the subject on the internet or in the library may be helpful
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
Download full course information sheet
