NES 1930

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  • Course Catalog - September 10, 2024 9:19AM EDT
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NES 1930
FWS: Powerful Words: Reading Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian Literature

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024.

When writing arouses admiration, awe, or pity, it can move people to act. Such texts surround us and include forms developed millennia ago in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Students will learn to recognize how ancient scribes communicated (with gods and men), educated, lamented, persuaded, and animated. Course readings (in translation) include the Epic of Gilgamesh, Tale of Sinuhe, teachings, law codes, propaganda, magic spells, correspondence, and philosophical musings in both prose and poetry. Influence on the Hebrew Bible and Koran will become apparent, as will the awareness that contemporary culture resonates with ancient meanings. Understanding these early, artful writing techniques will become meaningful as students develop their own to communicate their reactions and interpretations to other students and the instructor.

When Offered Spring.

Satisfies Requirement First-Year Writing Seminar.

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Syllabi: none

  •   FWS Session. 

  • 3 Credits Graded

  • 19140 NES 1930   SEM 101

  •  
    • MW Morrill Hall 110
    • Jan 22 - May 7, 2024

    • Monroe, C

  • For more information about First-Year Writing Seminars, see the Knight Institute website at http://knight.as.cornell.edu/.