 |
CLAS230
Classical Mythology
Department of Classics
Monmouth College
|
 |
Star Wars
and Classical Mythology
SCHEDULE
of Topics and Activities
Spring Semester 2015
|
|
Week |
TUESDAY
Weekly Writing Assignments Due |
THURSDAY
Quiz Day |
|
1 |
Jan. 13
Course Introductions and What is Myth?
Star Wars Scene: IV.1 Opening
Powerpoint: What is Myth?
American Heritage Dictionary
definition
Cullen's "Yet Do I Marvel"
Sisyphus:
Odyssey
11.593;
Apollodorus
Note 147;
Pausanias
2.5.1;
Diodorus
Siculus
6.6.3;
Hyginus:
#60; Apollodorus
1.9.3
On
Myths and Sisyphean Tasks
Star Wars: The Magic of Myth, 1-7
Star Wars V.31
"There is No Try";
"Always with
you it can't be done."
|
Jan. 15
Greek Myths and Star Wars in Popular Culture
Greek Mythology Today
Greek Mythology in Popular Culture
Sisyphus in the Modern World
Sisyphus in Popular Culture
(Powerpoint)
Cultural Impact of Star Wars
Powerpoint: Star Wars and Popular Culture
Beckman and Star Wars
Star Wars
Gangsta Rap
Star Wars Propaganda Posters
Star
Wars A Capella
Star Wars
According to a Three-Year-Old |
Writing Assignment (Jan. 20)
Write a 600 word comparison of the use of Greek Mythology
and Star Wars in Popular Culture. |
|
2 |
Jan. 20
What is a hero? Achilles and Luke
Some Definitions of
"Hero" /
The Hero Packet
Trojan
Cycle Summary of Events
Apollodorus Note 111 (Achilles)
Hyginus:
#92, 96 and 107 (Achilles)
Anakin
Padme in
Revenge of the Sith:
“There's good in him“
Script 230; chapter 46
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbjru5CQIW4 “I am your father”
script Chapter 46
Luke in
Return
of the Jedi:
"I sense the good in you”
Script 78, chapter 39
Star Wars IV.48 A Hero's Welcome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhdk0YOrVCg
Star Wars Scene: IV.10 Lars
Family Dinner (start at 4:30)
Torched Homestead IV.17
Powerpoint: Achilles
and Luke Skywalker |
Jan. 22
Folktale Themes
in Greek Myths and Star Wars
Powerpoint:
Perseus
Hyginus:
63 (Danae)
Apollodorus
2.4.1-2.4.5
Labyrinth and Rescue of the Princess" in Star
Wars: The Magic of Myth, pp. 47-56
Star Wars Scenes: IV, 32-34
Rescuing the Princess, Into the Garbage Chute, The Trash Compactor |
Writing Assignment (Jan. 27)
Compare and contrast the use of folktales themes in Greek Mythology
and Star Wars. |
|
3 |
Jan. 27
Mythology and Epic: Homer
Homer and Epic
(Genre Section)
Also useful:
Iliad (Malhanas) /
Chronology /
Trojan War
/
Chronology
of Ancient Sources
/
Odyssey
/
Peter Struck's CLAS200 Webpage at UPenn
Powerpoint:
Epic: Iliad
and Star Wars
http://empirestripsback.deviantart.com/art/The-Laocoon-Group-325986849
|
Jan. 29
Mythology and Epic:
Star Wars
"Funeral of Hector"
Hyginus:
106
Iliad
24:692-804
|
Writing Assignment (Feb. 3)
Explain the epic
features of Star Wars |
|
4 |
Feb. 3
Comparing Star Wars and the Iliad:
Iliad comparison book by book
with Star Wars
Star Wars: Lists of Scenes
Iliad
Summary /
Structure of the Iliad
In
what ways are the two similar? How are they different?
Star Wars Scripts:
IV. A New Hope /
V. Empire Strikes Back
/
VI. Return of the
Jedi /
I. Phantom
Menace /
II.
Attack
of the Clones /
III
Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Personality Chart /
Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator |
Feb. 5
Contests in Mythology and
Star Wars
Funeral Games of Patroclus in Homer's
Iliad
23 (or Johnston
or
Butler)
Summary of Funeral Games of Patroclus
Star Wars Scene: I.17 Pod Race
Ben-Hur Chariot
Race
Powerpoint:
Athletic contests in Homer
/ Roman Circus
and Amphitheatre
Star Wars and
Ben Hur |
Writing Assignment
(due Feb. 10)
Compare and contrast a scene from Star Wars and a scene from the
Iliad.
|
|
5 |
Feb. 10
Divine Machinery in Homer and Star Wars
Greek
Pantheon /
The Pantheon /
The Major Gods /
Genealogical Tables
Apollodorus
1.1.1-1.4.1 (the gods)
Athena Restrains Achilles (Iliad 1.
187-222)
Athena Mentors Telemachus
(Odyssey 1.)
Size
Matters Not
He's Quite Crafty For a Human
They Think I am a
God
Powerpoint:
Divine Machinery in Greek Myth and Star Wars
|
Feb. 12
Divine Machinery Cont.
|
Writing Assignment
(due Feb. 17)
Compare and contrast either
chariot races or divine machinery in the Iliad and in Star Wars. |
|
6 |
Feb. 17
Katabasis in Star Wars?
Vergil's
Georgics IV.453-528
Homer's
Odyssey 11
Star Wars:
The Magic of Myth, pp. 106-113
Star Wars Scenes: III.43-47 "Immolation", "The Emperor
Arrives", "Secret Delivery", "Birth and Rebirth" and "Darth Vader
Awakes"
The Hero's Return and Homecomings in Myth and Star Wars
Star Wars, 91-95
Powerpoint:
Katabasis and Star
Wars |
Feb. 19
The Hero Pattern in Homer and Star Wars;
The Hero's Birth
Lord Raglan's
Hero Pattern
Other Hero Patterns
Apollodorus
2.4.8 (Birth of Heracles)
Livy 1 (Birth of Romulus and Remus)
Birth of Luke Skywalker
Powerpoint: Hero Pattern Powerpoint
Heroes and Heroines in Greek Mythology and Star
Wars
The Hero Pattern applied
to Women in Myth, History, and Literature
Hero Cycle of Marie
de Medici
Leia and Lord Raglan
Star Wars:
The Magic of Myth, pp. 65-67; 158-159
"Penelope to Ulysses" in Ovid's
Heroides
Star Wars Scenes: VI, 11-12 On the Sail Barge and The Sarlacc Pit
Powerpoint:
Heroines
in Greek Myth and Star Wars
|
|
|
Writing Assignment (due
Feb. 24):
Compare and Contrast how Anakin
or Luke Skywalker and a Greek hero of your choice, or Leia or Padme
and a Greek heroine of your choice, fit Raglan's and one other hero
pattern. |
|
7 |
Feb. 24
The Hero Quest in
Mythology and Star Wars
The Hero Quest
Stages in the
Heroic Quest
Variations on the Theme of the Heroic Quest
Star
Wars: Magic of Myth
Star Wars:
The Magic of Myth, pp. 15-46
Star War Scenes: IV/17-18
Torched
Homestead and
Luke's Decision
Powerpoint: Hero Quest and
Star Wars |
Feb. 26
Joseph
Campbell and
Star Wars
"The Power of
Myth" (video)
"Joseph Campbell--A Scholar's Life"
"Joseph
Campbell's Mythic Journey" by Jonathan Young
 |
Writing Assignment (March
3)
Respond to Joseph Campbell's interpretation of Star Wars.
Do you agree or disagree? |
|
8 |
March 3
George Lucas and Star Wars
Mythology of Star Wars
Star
Wars: The Magic of Myth, pp. 7-14
"George Lucas
on Joseph Campbell"
"George Lucas Interview"
"How did George
Lucas Create Star Wars?
George Lucas bio
"George Lucas in Love"
Mythic Map
of Lucas' Life
George Lucas and Frank Coppola
Heinrich
Zimmer |
March 5
The Feel of the Past in Greek
Mythology and Star Wars
Star
Wars: The Magic of Myth,
pp. 160-202
Powerpoint
Cultural and Historical Influences on Star Wars
and Greek Mythology
Star Wars Pp. 123-157
Myths: 1.) Plutarch on Theseus; 2.)
Herodotus on Europa ; 3.
Thucydides on and the Trojan War;
4.)
Vergil on
Anchises and
Aeneas; 5.)
Vergil on Aeneas and Rome
Did Theseus Slay the Minotaur?
Hyginus:
40-43
Theseus and Minotaur
Myth and History |
|
Take Home Exam due on Friday,
March 6 |
