CL3ANX: Xenophon's Anabasis

Module code: CL3ANX

Module provider: Classics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Emma Aston, email: e.m.m.aston@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: No

Last updated: 11 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to introduce students to a rarely taught text: Xenophon’s Anabasis.  It combines consideration of the text’s literary features with exploration of its major historical significance: the Anabasis shows us many aspects of Classical Greek life which are normally left out of view.  In particular, the module aims to use the text to explore themes of travel, connectivity, identity and unconventional modes of warfare. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Identify the salient literary features of the Anabasis, such as authorial self-representation, Homeric themes and the articulation of Greek and non-Greek identity
2. Analyse the value of the text as evidence for key Classical Greek attitudes and practices
3. Consider the intersection between literary and historical approaches in a way that is useful to students on a range of courses

Module content

The lectures and seminars will move sequentially through major themes within, and illustrated by, the Anabasis. These may include some or all of the following:

• Greeks and non-Greeks
• mercenary soldiers and issues of allegiance
• the army as a ‘polis on the move’
• religious ritual on campaign
• fate, oracles and the gods
• leadership and leadership values

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures (with a high degree of active student participation) will be held every week.  In 16 of the weeks the lectures will be 2 hours long; in the remaining 4 weeks the second hour will be a seminar instead. 

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: /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