Mythology Book Club: An Exploration of Madeline Miller's Circe
What's included
6 live meetings
5 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Learners are expected to read an assigned number of chapters each week. Occasionally learners may have written assignments, as well. The amount of time it takes learners to read the chapters will vary on each learner's reading speed and comprehension. The number of hours of "outside work" in the description are intended to provide a baseline. For most learners, I imagine at least two hours of reading a week can be expected, though again, this depends on the individual.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
As a mythological figure, Circe has a long and storied history. The daughter of Helios, the ancient Greek god of the sun, this immortal sorceress plays a role in the tales of some of ancient Greece's most famous monsters, gods, and heroes. Her story, and the stories of those associated with her, have inspired countless works of art and literature. It is scarcely a wonder, then, that her story also inspired a modern-day classicist to write a novel that bears her name. Madeline Miller, who was educated in the classics and taught them, as well, chose Circe as her main character for a novel that weaves its own spell of myth, magic, and language. Circe is a novel that enchants, which seems only appropriate, given its subject. In the novel, the mythological tales of Circe are woven together by the power of the author's imagination. In this class, we'll examine which parts of the novel have their roots in the mythological tradition, and which parts have been invented by the author. The novel uses as much of its source material ancient Greek and Roman mythological stories; in the class, we'll use the novel as a jumping off point to explore some of these ancient myths. We'll reference the original ancient sources for Circe's story, and we'll explore many ancient myths that involve Circe either directly or indirectly: the stories of Scylla, Glaucus, Medea, Odysseus, the Minotaur, and more. The author also has Circe cross paths with a number of other famous names in Greek mythology (Prometheus, Daedalus, and Ariadne, to name a few); though there is no mythological support for some of these interactions, we'll learn more about the ancient stories of those figures, as well. We'll reference ancient poets from Homer to Ovid as original sources, and we'll see what modern changes the author has made to this source material. We'll also examine the literary merits of the novel, discussing language and style. This class is designed to be a combination of discussion and casual lecture. It is a book club, and this may be thought of as more of a seminar circle style of class (or, if we're feeling sophisticated, perhaps we'd refer to it as a literary salon!). Learner participation is very much encouraged; learners should come to each class expecting not only to learn more about the myths that are presented in the novel, but to share their thoughts on what they've read and to ask questions. Learners are expected to read a set amount of chapters before each class. Learners will need to purchase the novel or to check it out from the library. I will present information about the myths referenced in Circe, and I may use slides to present art or other literary references. The class will vary from week to week depending on where discussion takes us, but as a loose guideline, we'll discuss approximately four to five chapters a week. Though each week will feature discussions of numerous mythological stories, figures, and topics, some of the primary stories are outlined below: Week One: Circe's parentage and family; her relationship with Glaucus (chapters 1-5) Week Two: Circe and Scylla; Daedalus, Pasiphae, and the Minotaur (chapters 6-10) Week Three: Icarus; Medea and Jason (chapters 11-14) Week Four: Odysseus and his men; Telegonus (chapters 15-19) Week Five: Telemachus and Penelope (chapters 20-24) Week Six: Gods, mortals, and immortality (chapters 25-27) It is not necessary for learners to have a knowledge of classical mythology to take this course; it is recommended, however, that learners have a basic idea of what mythology is, and who the ancient Greeks were. I do offer a symposium-style mythology class on Circe (Mythology Symposium: The Story of Circe), and if learners would like to know more about Circe before enrolling in or beginning this class, that is encouraged (please contact me if you're interested in this class but there are no sections currently open or open sections do not fit with your schedule). The novel itself is written more for an adult audience, though in terms of subject matter, it is suitable for younger learners (there are some rare instances of bad language and some mild sexual innuendo; in keeping with the tradition of the myths, there are also some disturbing and violent events, though nothing graphic or gratuitous). The language of the novel is for more advanced readers, as there may be more challenging vocabulary and sentence structure depending on your learner's level. I STRONGLY recommend previewing the book before enrolling in this course to see if your learner is at the level of reading necessary for the novel. I want learners to feel comfortable in my classes. To read is an absolute joy and often a comfort (such is my experience, anyway). As such, learners should feel free to dress casually, lounge comfortably, and snack politely.
Learning Goals
Learners can expect to learn a lot about classical mythology and the ancient works and authors from whom we get these mythological tales. Learners can also expect to learn about a number of literary/rhetorical devices and to expand their critical thinking skills as they ponder questions around style, tone, and language.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Please see the class description for details. Again, if you have any reservations or questions about whether or not this class is suitable for your learner, please contact me so that I can provide more detail and answer any questions.
Supply List
All learners will need to have a copy of Madeline Miller's Circe. The novel is available on Amazon and in most bookstores; learners can also check out a copy from the library. Learners will need to bring their book to each class meeting.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Foreign Language from University of Virginia
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from Oberlin College
I fell in love with classics as an undergraduate. During high school, I had taken a few Latin courses, and I had a genuine interest in the language (as a child, I had even attempted to teach myself Latin from a book, which didn't go so well, but clearly I had an attraction to Latin from an early age!), but it wasn't something I imagined myself pursuing in any serious way in higher education. In the first semester of my freshman year at college, however, due to a mix up with my schedule, I ended up in a Roman history course, and it transformed my world. I was entranced by both the subject matter and the teacher, and when the second semester came around, I made sure to sign up for as many classics courses as I could take. By sophomore year, I was learning ancient Greek and declaring my major in classics. I received my BA in Latin Language and Literature (with an undeclared minor in ancient Greek language and literature) from Oberlin College.
During my senior year of college, I made the decision to apply to graduate school. By that time, I had decided that I wanted to share my excitement for the classical world by becoming a teacher, and given my passion for classics, I preferred to deepen my knowledge of the subject rather than to attend a master's of education program. I received a merit-based classics fellowship from the University of Virginia, from which I received my MA in Classics. I wrote my master's thesis on the treatment of women in three exempla of Ovid's Ars Amatoria.
My classics education exposed me not only to ancient languages and literature, but to the very world of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and learning more about Greek and Roman mythology, in which I have had a strong interest since I was a child, was an integral part of the experience. Any program of study in classics demands a strong knowledge of many aspects of the ancient world outside of its languages. I love classics, and I believe my love for it shines through in every class I teach and in every interaction I have with a student.
I have been a Latin language tutor for my entire adult life, I have taught Latin language and literature courses on the college level, and as a teacher at a private school in Virginia, I taught Latin language courses (intro Latin all the way through AP Latin) for middle schoolers and upper schoolers; because the school gave teachers control over course curriculum, I structured my classes so that mythology, ancient history, and classical civilization played an integral role.
Here on Outschool, I teach a large number of classes on classical mythology.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$110
for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
55 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
2-6 learners per class