Achilles and Beowulf: What Epic Poetry Can Tell Us About Ancient Society *In-Person* *NEW*

When we attempt to uncover ancient history, often the only voices we hear are those of the poets who wrote their legends. We hear of gods and heroes, of great beasts and trials, but what do these stories tell us about the people who told these tales? This course explores how epic poetry reflects the societies and cultures it depicts. Should stories like the Iliad just be viewed as folk tales and literature, or can we glean history from them? This course will cover various poetry from around the world, where students will read sections of the poems and learn about the societies they depict.

Instructor: John Horan

Sections

Instructor

John Horan is a social studies teacher at Collins Middle School in Salem. He has a B.A in history and a Master's in Social Studies Education. His focus is in medieval and ancient history, specifically focused on Classical Greece and Rome in the ancient world, and early Welsh and Celtic studies in the medieval period.