Universität Wien

090115 UE Fables in Motion: The Transformation of Greek Animal Narratives (2026S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Th 21.05. 10:30-12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 14 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 05.03. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 19.03. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 26.03. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 16.04. 10:30 - 12:00 Digital
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Thursday 23.04. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 30.04. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 07.05. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 28.05. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 11.06. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 18.06. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 25.06. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

How do fables change when they travel from one culture to another, or from one genre to another, and how does their function shift in the process? What happens when the Indo-Persian fable tradition meets Greek medieval readers? In this course, we will investigate fables and animal tales in the Greek literary tradition with a focus on translation, adaptation, and cross-cultural exchange. We will read selections from the Aesopic corpus, Babrius, the Life of Aesop, Stephanites and Ichnelates, as well as other textual genres that embed or are related to fables.

We will examine the structure and functions of fables, relations among author, narrator, and narratee, and the dynamics of focalization and perspective, applying these concepts through guided textual analysis. Knowledge of Greek is not a requirement; all sources will be provided with English translation. Primary texts will be paired with key theoretical and methodological studies to situate our work within current scholarship.
Teaching will emphasise horizontal exchange, dialogue, and critical reflection on primary sources. The aim is to have foundational knowledge of the structure, function, and transmission of Greek fables; be able to interpret fables by applying key narratological concepts (author/narrator/narratee, focalization, perspective); and discuss secondary literature critically. In the last two class sessions, each of you will choose a new passage from one of the narrative sources we discussed and present it to the group, with your own analysis and interpretation.

If you have any doubts or curiosities about this class, please get in touch with me: alessandra.guido@univie.ac.at , I am very happy to answer your questions!

Assessment and permitted materials

1. Weekly assignments and engagement in in-class discussion (40%): Every week, you will receive an article, either contextualising the primary sources we are going to read or introducing interpretative tools that we will then apply. You should read the article and mark at least four passages that you find either particularly engaging or unclear. We will then discuss these passages during class, compare impressions, and clarify doubts before approaching the narrative sources.
2. Two commented passages (40%): At Weeks 9 and 11, you will submit a short commentary (max 1 page) on a text passage previously discussed in class. The aim is to help you consolidate the concepts and interpretative tools we practised and to prepare for the presentation.
3. Presentation (20%): You will choose a text passage from one of the sources we discussed in class, apply the tools we learned during the semester, and present your interpretative commentary. I will provide further guidelines during the course and will be available to discuss questions and ideas beforehand during office hours.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

There are no prerequisites to attend this class. All Greek texts will be provided with English translations. Students of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, as well as those from different backgrounds and disciplines, are very welcome!
The minimum requirements to pass this class are to achieve at least 50/100 points (see assessment criteria below) and to give a presentation. As a general rule, two absences are permitted. Please get in touch with me ahead of time, if you cannot come to a session. In that case, you will have to send me the weekly assignment and a brief annotation for each marked passage explaining why you found the passage interesting or what doubts it raised.

1. Weekly assignments and engagement in in-class discussion: 40 points (5 points for each class, Weeks 3 to 12). 2 points for marking passages; 3 points for asking questions and participating in the in-class discussion.
2. Two commented passages: 20 + 20 points. You are expected to write a brief commentary on two text passages we discussed in class. Building on the in-class discussion, you are invited to develop your own interpretative hypothesis. You will receive feedback on your submitted commentaries during the next class session.
3. Presentation: 20 points. You will comment on a new text passage of your choice. Assessment will be based on correct use of terminology and interpretative tools, and effective engagement with the research questions.
Grading scale: 100-80: 1. 79-70: 2. 69-60: 3. 59-50: 4. <50: fail.

Examination topics

Reading list

(The full list of references will be provided during the course)

Primary Sources (Selected passages)

Alison Noble, Alexander Alexakis, and Richard P. H. Greenfield (eds.) 2022. Animal Fables of the Courtly Mediterranean. The Eugenian Recension of Stephanites and Ichnelates. [Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 73], Cambridge, Mass./London.
Perry, B. E. (ed.) 1952. Aesopica: A Series of Texts Relating to Aesop or Ascribed to Him or Closely Connected with the Literary Tradition That Bears His Name. Urbana, Illinois.
Perry, B. E. (ed.) 2014. Babrios and Phaedrus: Fables. Cambridge, Mass.

Optional additional readings

Brodersen, Kai (ed.) 2021. Symeon Seth, Fabelbuch: Stephanites Und Ichnelates. Speyer.
Eidener, Hans (ed.) 2011. Äsop: Der Frühneugriechische Roman. Einführung, Übersetzung, Kommentar. Wiesbaden.
Ferrari, Franco (ed.) 2005. Romanzo Di Esopo. Testo Greco a Fronte. Translated by Guido Bonelli. Milano.

Secondary Literature

Contzen, Eva von. 2014. "Why We Need a Medieval Narratology: A Manifesto." Diegesis 3 (2): 121.
Cupane, Carolina, and Bettina Krönung (eds.) 2016. Fictional Storytelling in the Eastern Mediterranean and Beyond. Leiden/Boston. (selected passages)
Gärtner, Ursula, and Lukas Spielhofer. 2026. "In Cothurnis Prodit Aesopus Novis: Ancient Fable and the Literary Genres." In Ancient Fables and Literary Genres. Texts, Contexts, Interactions, vol. 198. [Trends in Classics, Supplementary Volumes] Berlin/Boston.
Jong, Irene J. F. de, 2014. Narratology and Classics: A Practical Guide. Oxford. (selected passages)

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 03.03.2026 09:46