Ancient Culture Lab

Why Should You Take This Elective?

Ever wondered how ancient Greek culture and language still influence our lives? This module, Ancient Culture Lab: Homer’s Experience and the Greek Language, explores two seminal texts of Western literature, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the world of epic, and the ancient Greek language. Over 12 weeks, you will experiment with easy-to-use online tools to dive into Homer’s ideas, study the structure of ancient Greek, and understand its legacy in modern English and other languages. Whether you are studying chemistry, English, economics, or history, this elective reveals why the past, Greek culture, and even ‘dead’ languages still matter today.

What Will You Learn?

• Discover why Homer and ancient Greek culture are essential to understanding the modern world.
• Learn how “dead” languages are alive in how we think, speak, and write.
• Gain insights into the structure of ancient Greek and how it connects to other languages, ancient and modern.

What Will You Do?

• Attend weekly lectures from an expert in Homer and ancient Greek culture and language.
• Participate in weekly seminar discussions about key aspects and themes of Homer’s work.
• Use online tools to explore ancient Greek texts alongside English translations.
• Learn the Greek alphabet, key Homeric terms, and some of the foundations of the ancient Greek language.

How Is It Delivered?

• Weekly 1-hour lectures and 1-hour seminars.
• Interactive online tools and resources.
• Guided readings and Blackboard worksheets for independent study.

How Will It Be Assessed?

• Class Participation (10%): Engage in discussions in class and online.
• In-Class/Online Tests (20%): Short tests on material covered in lectures, seminars and readings.
• Team Project (70%): Analyse a key Greek word or concept and its relevance over time.

Who Can Take This Elective?

This module is open to all students except those studying Greek or Latin as part of their course.

By the end of this module, you'll not only appreciate Homer’s works but understand how ancient Greek continues to influence modern thought and language in ways you might never have imagined.

* Please note that assessment methods, assessment weightings and amount of contact hours are subject to change by the module coordinator. You can confirm all assessment details and expected contact hours with the module coordinator upon starting the elective.