CL2SI: My Mother's Sin and other Stories

Module code: CL2SI

Module provider: Classics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Dimitra Tzanidaki-Kreps, email: d.tzanidaki-kreps@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 11 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

• To introduce some major authors and works as well as trends in Modern Greek Poetry and Fiction from the late 19th century to the late 20th century; 
• To analyse selected poems and novels in connection with both the history, sociocultural context and wider literary developments of their period; 
• To illustrate attitudes to the ancient past in the work of some selected poets and novelists. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Relate the interpretation of specific poems/novels to the original historical and literary contexts in which these were produced;
2. Complement the analysis presented in the lectures with additional information assembled by their own research;
3. Analyse in detail selected poems/ passages through written commentaries;
4. Discuss the structure and literary artistry of the works studied;
5. Give oral presentations and take part in discussion groups;
6. Research secondary literature.

Module content

Since its emergence in 1821 the Modern Greek State has had a dramatic history with rapid political, economic and social change but also an unprecedented output of creative literature of all kinds. This course introduces the work of some of the most important Greek writers since the late 19th century. Greek novelists and poets exploiting Greek language and culture in all their age-long richness as well as being often influenced by other European literary movements have, in these last two centuries, created a national literature which has, through translation, gained its distinct place in a European and global context. The course begins with the collected stories of Vizyinos. A survey of Cavafy's collected poems follows as well as some selected poems from the 1930s generation (Seferis' Mythistorima, Ritsos' Moonlight Sonata, some poems from the large oeuvre of Elytis).  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through a series of 10 2-hour lectures in the first semester plus Guided recommended study: 180 I.e 200 total hours. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs