Complicated Women: Reframing Penelope and Circe

About this course

The course considers how feminist writers revise Penelope and Circe, two figures shaped by the gender politics of the Odyssey. It examines Penelope beyond the role of obedient wife and Circe beyond that of temptress and witch, asking how retellings question the epic and modern assumptions about women. Teaching combines short presentations with close reading, small-group discussion and whole-group exchange. Extracts from writers including Margaret Atwood, Katerina Anghelaki-Rooke and Madeline Miller will be used to explore voice, power, complicity and loss.

What you'll learn

• Identify themes in feminist reinterpretations of Penelope and Circe.
• Compare how different writers approach and use Homeric myth.
• Discuss how mythic narratives can engage with gender roles.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for anyone interested in classical mythology or feminist literature. No previous experience or particular skills are required, but participants will be expected to read and discuss texts through a combination of small-group and whole-group activities.

• No previous experience or particular skills are required.
• Participation includes close reading and discussion in small and whole-group settings.

Before you go

• Core readings will be sent by email before the session.
• Bring a pen for notetaking.