A span of nearly four centuries-from the mid-eighth to the early-fourth century B.C.E.-is the chronological backdrop for most of this survey of archaic and classical Greek literature in translation, but we will also read still older non-Greek texts like the epic Gilgamesh, in order to gain insight into ancient Greek culture's unique situation between what would later be termed "Europe" and the "Near East." This course will consider in depth Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and selections from the Greek lyric poets; these readings from the archaic period will establish a sense of the fundamental values that continued to shape Greek culture through the classical period. The second half of the course will concentrate on works produced in fifth century Athens: tragedies by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides and comedies by Aristophanes. In a short coda, we will read selections from the early dialogues of Plato and consider how, at the end of the classical period, Greeks still wrestled with many of the same ambiguities and difficulties that had marked their earliest literature and that would continue to mark much subsequent Western thought. Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation will be based on class participation, two short essays, and a final exam. No prerequisities. Enrollment limit: 25 students in each section; preference will be given to first-year students and sophomores. Juniors and seniors may be enrolled only with permission of the instructor.