Retelling the Myths of Ancient Greece

Course Description

Epic tales of heroes, gods, monsters, and magic have been passed down through generations and across the world. But why are these stories still relevant thousands of years after they were first told? Myths are one of our oldest forms of explaining the world around us and how it came to be. Each retelling imbues them with new meaning. Through the lens of Greek mythology, we will explore how these stories transform – from Homer’s epics to Shakespeare’s plays, through to popular modern-day retellings like Percy Jackson or Hadestown.

The course will focus on the power of storytelling in shaping history from antiquity to the present. You will learn fundamental skills of thinking like a historian, and engage with sources, both historical and modern, which depict Greek myths in written text, paintings, film, music, ceramics, and more. Guided by a variety of hands-on activities, short lectures, group discussion, and games, you will gain a greater understanding of myths, not just as ancient tales, but as foundational narratives that are used to make sense of the world throughout time.

Putting this learning into practice, the central project of the course will ask you to choose a myth to retell (or create your own original!) in order to explain a world past, present, or imagined. How might the Jazz Age retell Persephone’s story? What could a 22nd century reimagining of the Odyssey look like? What aspect of today’s society could be explained through a new myth? You will be encouraged to take inspiration from the diverse retellings of myth covered throughout the course, as well as your own skills and interests to develop your myth in a format of your choosing. This could be a short story, a podcast, a D&D campaign, a play, or anything else you might come up with. Throughout the week, you will develop and refine your myth through in-class workshops and be supported in your progress. As you learn about how myths have been told and retold across the ages, let your imagination run wild and step into the role of storyteller yourself. Are you ready to forge a new myth?