An Introduction to Ancient Greek: A Literary Approach [Paperback]

C. A. E. Luschnig (Author), Deborah Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0872208893 | ISBN-13: 978-0872208896 | Publication Date: September 7, 2007 | Edition: 2 Revised

C.A.E. Luschnig's An Introduction to Ancient Greek: A Literary Approach prepares students to read Greek in less than a year by presenting basic traditional grammar without frills and by introducing real Greek written by ancient Greeks, from the first day of study. The second edition retains all the features of the first but is more streamlined, easier on the eyes, more gender-inclusive, and altogether more 21st century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...her approach brings students to competency quickly and efficiently. The new version improves what was already a good text, keeping the many exercise sentences, providing a realistic selection of 'real Greek' readings with translation aids conveniently below. The proof is in the pudding: after doing beginning Greek with Luschnig's text, my Greek students have been able to move easily to the second year reading classes in either Euripides or Plato." -- Karelisa Hartigan, Department of Classics, University of Florida. "...offers a thorough and clear account of grammar and syntax, copious exercises for practice, and a wonderful array of brief passages from ancient authors for translation and discussion. My students and I have used the text happily for years, and this new edition is even better than its predecessor." -- Deborah H Roberts, William R Kennan Jr Professor of Comparative Literature and Classics, Haverford College. "...the most successful of the more than half-dozen beginning Greek grammars I have used in the classroom, especially in this revised edition. Students meet 'real Greek' early and often, and the exercises are ample and varied. What I appreciate particularly is that this grammar has personality, even a sense of humor, so that my students feel they are learning ancient Greek from Cecelia Luschnig rather than an anonymous textbook..." --Sherry Gray Martin, Faculty, St John's College, Santa Fe.

From the Back Cover

C.A.E. Luschnig's An Introduction to Ancient Greek: A Literary Approach prepares students to read Greek in less than a year by presenting basic traditional grammar without frills and by introducing real Greek written by ancient Greeks, from the first day of study. The second edition retains all the features of the first but is more streamlined, easier on the eyes, more gender-inclusive, and altogether more 21st century.

"I have used C.A.E. Luschnig's text for my beginning Greek sequence for over twenty years. I find that her approach brings students to competency quickly and efficiently. The new version improves what was already a good text, keeping the many exercise sentences, providing a realistic selection of 'real Greek' readings with translation aids conveniently below. The proof is in the pudding: after doing beginning Greek with Luschnig's text, my Greek students have been able to move easily to the second year reading classes in either Euripides or Plato."
--Karelisa Hartigan, Professor of Classics, University of Florida

"Luschnig's excellent An Introduction to Ancient Greek offers a thorough and clear account of grammar and syntax, copious exercises for practice, and a wonderful array of brief passages from ancient authors for translation and discussion. My students and I have used the text happily for years, and this new edition is even better than its predecessor."
--Deborah H. Roberts, William R. Kennan, Jr. Professor of Comparative Literature and Classics, Haverford College

"An Introduction to Ancient Greek: A Literary Approach is the most successful of the more than half-dozen beginning Greek grammars I have used in the classroom, especially in this revised edition. Students meet 'real Greek' early and often, and the exercises are ample and varied. What I appreciate particularly is that this grammar has personality, even a sense of humor, so that my students feel they are learning ancient Greek from Cecelia Luschnig rather than an anonymous textbook. The Web site associated with this book is an invaluable resource."
--Sherry Gray Martin, Faculty, St. John's College, Santa Fe

"This accessible and reliable presentation of the essential grammar (backed by numerous exercises and readings) is so well-paced that a class, if it wishes, can speed through in fifteen or sixteen weeks and have the rest of the year to read a Plato dialogue or a Lysias speech."
--Richard Hamilton, Paul Shorey Professor of Greek, Bryn Mawr College

C.A.E. Luschnig is Professor Emerita of Classics, University of Idaho.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 374 pages
• Publisher: Hackett Pub Co; 2 Revised edition (September 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872208893
• ISBN-13: 978-0872208896
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars C.A.E. Luschnig, An Introduction to Ancient Greek, 2nd edition, November 1, 2007

By 

Hanna Roisman (Waterville, ME) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Ancient Greek: A Literary Approach (Paperback)

An excellent book for beginners! From my experience the students quickly learn the basics of both grammar and syntax, and they also enjoy the way the book presents the material. The increments of new material are carefully apportioned with deep consideration of how much can a student absorb in a lesson. The sequencing of subjects is pedagogically effective. Grammar is explained clearly, with sufficient linguistic background to assist in comprehension. The presentation of syntactical concepts is exemplary in its clarity. Sentences in the exercises are based on lines culled from ancient writers, often aphorisms expressing the sort of universal truths students find engaging. These glimpses of Greek thought help encourage the students to persevere in their work. Unlike many books, this text exposes the student to original Greek immediately, in the Introduction -- and they can do it! The author's sometimes humorous tone is appealing, and students find the book "friendly." Luschnig approaches the student as intelligent and committed, including advice on how to tackle memorizing forms, for instance, a sort of mental discipline with which many students today are unfamiliar. I've taught from a variety of books, and I've never found the progress so easy. An efficient and enjoyable book for both students and teachers!
Hanna Roisman, Colby College

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Tough Language Made Easier, September 9, 2008

By 

Timothy Davis (Santa Fe, New Mexico; United States of America) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: An Introduction to Ancient Greek: A Literary Approach (Paperback)

Dr. Luschnig has tackled a rough task: write an Ancient Greek textbook for beginners. On the whole, I think she succeeds admirably well. What appealed to me most of all with this textbook was the early and frequent inclusion of ancient writers in the translation exercises; "cookbook Greek" is kept to an excellent minimum. The student is started right off with the first principle part and all principle parts are included well. She gives the subjunctive and optative little and late attention for such important forms in Ancient Greek and her mini-dictionary index should not be relied upon for translation. These complaints aside, the industrious student should be well equipped in a year of study to begin translating Aristotle and Plato.

Aesthetics: A very attractive textbook. The Greek text is gorgeous and a pleasure to read, even when you're cursing it when a word stumps you. Important terms are in bold font for easy recognition, as are vocabulary words, etc.

Durability: The softbound cover is fairly resistant, but don't expect miracles if your study habits abuse books. The spine will crease if you repeatedly fully open the spread, and if you are careless, the cover will crinkle and bend. If you are careful, you will be adequately rewarded. The pages stay in the volume and the textbook should last quite a few years. However, study volumes as a rule get abused, and this one does not respond well to wear. Buy it in hardcover or be very careful.

Size: A good size for a textbook. Wide enough so it stays open without too much trouble (I laid a smallish book bridging it to the table to keep it open) and not too clunky, probably because Luschnig gives you the bare-bones needed to read/translate Ancient Greek.

Price: Almost unbeatable for a new Ancient Greek textbook. Comparable textbooks are almost twice this much on occasion.

All told, a quality textbook for the beginning Greek student. It will give you the information necessary to read Greek, provided you don't beat on it too hard (its greatest fault) along the way.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for a Tough Course, January 4, 2009

By 

Matthew J. Summers (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Ancient Greek: A Literary Approach (Paperback)

As a student at St. John's College Santa Fe, we taught ourselves Greek from this book with the aid of a tutor. Having compared it with several others since, it is better organized than most. The explainations are clear and the order in which it is taught is logical.

Many of the practice sentences are taken from classical authors which makes them fun and rewarding to translate.

Several typos in the Greek were encountered, so be aware of that and don't lose your mind trying to translate something that is obviously wrong.

On the whole a very helpful book for such a hard subject. Strongly recommended for beginners.