Schedule
2027 Greek Beginner's Ancient Greek
The following sets out a proposed outline of the course. Please note that is subject to change. For each class, there will be written grammatical exercises, a transcription exercise, and a guided translation of a passage with a close focus on key texts from the Renaissance, including Bessarion, Erasmus, Homer, the New Testament and prefaces of Aldus Manutius. The grammar part of the course will require a copy of L. A. Wilding, Greek for Beginners (Bloomsbury). There are many second-hand copies available.
Lesson 1 (Thurs 18 Feb)
Introduction to the language and pronunciation
Overview of structure of Greek accidence and syntax
Greek and your laptop
Verbs: present tense, regular and εἰμί
Lesson 2 (Thurs 25 Feb)
Greek ‘dialects’; accentuation (1)
Lexica
Use of cases
Definite article; 1st declension, nouns
Future tense
Lesson 3 (4 March)
Learning Greek in the Renaissance
2nd declension nouns
Imperfect, aorist and perfect tenses (active)
Lesson 4 (11 March)
New Testament and Koine Greek
Adjectives; 3rd declension nouns
Verb consolidation
Lesson 5 (18 March)
More 3rd declension nouns
Verbs: temporal augments, irregular aorists
Numerals
Revision
Lesson 6 (Thurs 8 April)
Accentuation (2)
‘Aspect’ in verbs
Middle voice
Infinitives and their uses
Lesson 7 (15 April)
Participles and their use
Pronouns (1)
Lesson 8 (22 April)
Renaissance accentuation (3)
Pronouns (2)
Introduction to other moods: subjunctive and optative
Lesson 9 (29 April)
Contracted and -μι verbs
Other syntactical clauses
Next steps
The course begins on Thursday 18 February 2027, meeting weekly at 4.30-6pm (UK time) for five weeks.
Following an Easter break, classes will resume on Thursday 8 April 2027 for the final four weeks.