Author Description
Combining the best features of traditional and modern methods, Athenaze: An Introduction to Ancient Greek 3/e, provides a unique, bestselling course of instruction that allows students to read connected Greek narrative right from the begining and guides them to the point where they can begin reading complete classical texts. Carefully designed to hold students' interest, the course begins in Book I with a fictional narrative about an Attic farmer's family placed in a precise historical context (423-431 B.C.). This narrative, interwoven with tales from mythology and the Persian Wars, gradually gives way in Book II to adapted passages from Thucydides, Plato, and Herodotuc and ultimately to excerpts of the original Greek of Bacchylides, Thucudides, and Aristophanes' Acharnians. Essays on relevant aspects of ancient Greek culture and history are also woven throughout.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
How can a pedagogical framework effectively bridge the gap between introductory language acquisition and the reading of authentic classical Greek texts? The authors, Gilbert Lawall, James Morwood, and Maurice Balme, utilize a hybrid methodology that synthesizes traditional grammatical instruction with modern communicative techniques. By anchoring the learning process in a continuous, historically situated narrative, the text provides a structured progression from foundational vocabulary to the complex syntax found in original classical literature.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A narrative-driven curriculum set in 423-431 B.C. focusing on an Attic farmer's family.
- Integrated cultural and historical essays regarding Ancient Greece.
- Gradual transition from constructed narratives to adapted passages from Thucydides, Plato, and Herodotus.
Scope Limits
- This volume focuses specifically on the introductory level and does not provide advanced linguistic analysis or comprehensive coverage of all classical authors.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Educators frequently cite this text as a standard for its ability to maintain student engagement through its narrative-first approach. Experts highlight the balance between rigorous grammatical instruction and the inclusion of primary source excerpts as a key factor in its widespread adoption in academic settings.
Page Count:
464
Publication Date:
2016-01-04
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190607661
ISBN-13:
9780190607661
Language Learning
textbook
Ancient Greek
Education
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