About Greek, BA (Hons) - at Trinity College Dublin
Greek cannot be studied as a single subject. It must be combined with one other subject within the two-subject moderatorship (TSM) programme. TSM is a joint honors programme; both subjects are studied for three years and one subject only is studied in the fourth year. When studied as one subject of a two-subject moderatorship you can study Greek ab initio (from beginner level) as an intensive language component is available in first year. Greek may only be combined with Latin in the single honor Classics degree.
Is this the right course for me?As a student of Greek you will not be merely a student of language, but also of art and literature, of history, politics, philosophy and religion. The core curriculum provides a solid grounding in many of the major disciplines of the humanities.
Course contentThroughout the programme a wide variety of texts is studied, including epic, drama, lyric poetry, philosophy and historiography. The first year courses will depend on whether you are learning Greek as a beginner or have already studied the language. The main emphasis of both beginners' and non-beginners' courses is on classical literature and thought as seen within its cultural context. To complement this, you will also study some history, art history and archaeology. This encourages a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to classical culture.
The Junior Freshman yearIn the Junior Freshman (first) year all students follow a course in Greek and Roman history and a course in Greek and Roman art and architecture. The language component of the course will be different for students who have previously studied Greek than for students who are beginning the language from scratch.
- Art and architecture of Greece and Rome - an introductory survey of the chief periods and styles in Greek and Roman architecture, sculpture, painting and pottery
- Introduction to Greek and Roman history - an introductory survey of the history of Greece and Rome, from the Greek Archaic age to the early Roman principate (c.850BC-AD68)
Greek for beginners Elementary Greek - an introduction to the Greek language with emphasis both on comprehension and on grammar.
Mythology and religion - an examination of the chief Grecian myths, as illustrated in Greek and Roman art and literature, followed by a study of the chief features of Greek and Roman religion.
Greek for non-beginnersGreek language - this course offers the revision and consolidation of basic morphology, grammar, syntax and vocabulary for students who have studies Greek in school.
Greek texts - this course deals with selected portions of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad and of Herodotus' Histories.
The Senior Freshman and Junior Sophister yearsIn the second and third years students improve their fluency in reading and accuracy of translation through a translation class. The course offers the revision and consolidation of basic morphology, grammar, syntax and vocabulary, leading on to more advanced work involving the reading and translation of a selection of texts in both prose and verse, unseen translation from Greek into English and translation from English into Greek in the form of a structured series of linguistic exercises. In addition you will study major literary works by authors such as Homer, Herodotus and Plato.
All students continue with the study of Greek history, concentrating on the three major periods: the Archaic 850-480 BC; the Classical 480-323 BC; and the Hellenistic 323-30 BC.
The Senior Sophister yearIf you elect to study in the department in your final year you will take two special subjects and write a thesis of not more than 15,000 words on a subject of your choice that is of relevance to the Classical world. Final year courses in the recent past have included Greek political philosophy, Greek lyric poetry and the House of Atreus.
Assessment structureContinuous assessment is combined with end-of year examinations and, in your final year, a dissertation.
Career opportunities Recent graduates have worked in many fields including archaeology, art restoration, banking and accountancy, business, civil service, computers, journalism and broadcasting, law, librarianship, museum work, publishing, teaching and theatre.
