Classical Studies

Only the greatest literary achievements are capable of chronicling the greatest achievements of mankind. Homer's accounts of the Trojan War in The Iliad, and the wanderings of Odysseus in The Odyssey are the foundations of European literature. Virgil attempts to mirror these masterpieces of Greek poetry with an epic legitimation of the power and grandeur of Rome: The Aeneid. Finally, in Paradise Lost, John Milton draws on the tradition of the Greek and Roman genre to produce a Christian epic which, as he saw it, would surpass both, by the virtue of the superiority of the subject matter - The Fall of Man! This course aims to introduce the student to these masterpieces (Homer and Virgil in translation) and to cover the major themes of each epic in some depth. It also aims to encourage students to make connections between them and to set them in the context of modern views of poetic composition.

Subject areas: Classics, Literature and English
Check with your home institution for specific information on fulfilment of major/course requirements.

Classical Theatre: Greek and English Tragedy [Autumn]

The course begins with Homer, in whom so many of the roots of Greek tragedy are to be found. Are Hector and Achilles 'tragic' characters in any sense? Does his poem The Iliad glorify war, or accentuate its human cost, or both? Then, several weeks will be spent on selected Greek tragedies such as Aeschylus' Oresteia, Euripides' Medea and Sophocles' Antigone and Oedipus the King. The similarities with English tragedy, and also the differences, will be an important focus. Is there such a thing as a Greek 'tragic hero', and if so how is he or she different from the English counterparts? (How much difference does the Greek preoccupation with houses, families, and cities make to the treatment of individuals?). The course moves toward a consideration of specific English tragedies, those for example, of Kyd, Shakespeare and Webster, to draw some conclusions about the nature of tragedy and the way English tragedy has grown out of a classical tradition.

Subject areas: Classical Sutdies, Literature, English and Theatre
Check with your home institution for specific information on fulfilment of major/course requirements.

The History of Medicine: Hippocratic Corpus to Harvey [Spring]

This course will introduce students to the philosophical and medical concepts underpinning the study and understanding of the mind and body in the Ancient World through to the Early Modern period. After an initial focus on Homeric and Hippocratic texts the course will cover medical and philosophical writings in Hellenistic and Roman worlds, and the transmission of ideas through the Ancient World to the time of Galen. We will explore the influence of the humoural and other medical models during the Byzantine period and into the Middle Ages, and trace the evolution of medical education and medicine as a profession through to the time of William Harvey.

The course will also look at alternative traditions of healing, and pay special attention to ideas of madness, with a detailed exploration of ideas of divine causation and demonic possession. Other topics such as gender, astrology, anatomy and plague remedies will be covered in tandem with the social history of the time.

No prior knowledge is required and all texts will be studied in translation.

Subject areas: History, Classical Studies, Medieval Studies.
Check with your home institution for specific information on fulfilment of major/course requirements.

National Identity in Ancient Greece and Rome (tutorial) [Autumn]

Beginning with The Iliad, we discuss how far Greeks and Trojans represent different national styles and how gender issues are interrelated with racial. Looking at Greek tragedy, and especially Aeschylus' Persians, we discuss the concept of 'Orientalism' and how far it is constructed and challenged within the play. Herodotus' depiction of the Greek triumph over the Persian invader in 490 and 480 is also analysed. Greek identity is then contrasted with Roman through a study of Virgil's Aeneid which questions how much the Roman culture of military success cost its victims. The last few weeks will be devoted to a detailed study of one of the texts covered, or an extension of the approach to one of a number of other works: for instance, other Greek tragedies; or the treatment of other 'barbarian' races such as the Germans or British in Tacitus; or Plutarch's Antony, and its treatment of Cleopatra and Egypt. For general information on ASE's Oxford-style tutorials, please visit The Tutorial Programme.

Subject areas: Classical Studies and History
Check with your home institution for specific information on fulfilment of major/course requirements.

Classical and Modern Languages [Autumn & Spring]

Courses are available for those who have already begun the study of a classical or modern language and wish to pursue it further as part of their work at ASE. Those who choose to study languages will normally be taught in Oxford in very small groups or individual tutorials. This format is ideally suited to help the transition from intermediate to more advanced levels of linguistic competence. Studying a language at ASE represents a special opportunity to continue or complete a language requirement in an intensely rewarding way. These courses, which normally replace one of the four taught courses, involve an additional fee of £500 which includes travel to Oxford - if necessary. Students applying for one of these courses are requested to enclose with their application a letter indicating the level of proficiency attained in the language they propose to study.
* Note: ASE does not provide courses for beginners.

Subject areas: Classical and Modern Languages
Check with your home institution for specific information on fulfilment of major/course requirements.