LEADER
Mark Cwik‘s deep understanding and appreciation of classical texts are evident in his ability to engage discussion participants and bring ancient stories to life. Mark’s extensive reading and dedication have earned him a reputation among peers and enthusiasts as a highly knowledgeable and skilled reader. He has devoted thousands of hours to reading and discussing the Iliad, Odyssey and the Greek tragedies with adult learners of all ages.
READINGS
This seminar will include a broad selection of complete works and selections from authors ancient to modern, including ancient writers Euripides, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Seneca, Homer, Hesiod, Sappho, Vergil, Ovid, Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates and Gorgias; later writers such as Dante, Marlowe, Shakespeare; and contemporary authors including Anne Carson, Margaret Atwood, Dorothy Parker, and Madeline Miller.
Many of the readings will be provided. Participants will bring their own copies of the following plays. Euripides’ Helen | Euripides’ Herakles | Sophocles’ Philoctetes | Euripides’ Medea. Information about editions will be provided after registration.
SEMINAR OVERVIEW
“Helen … Destroyer of Ships, destroyer of men, destroyer of cities” — Aeschylus, from the Agamemnon
“My new marriage benefited Greece … You’re free! But Greek delight cost me my ruin: sold for my beauty, loathed by those who should have blessed and crowned my head.”– Helen in Euripides’ Trojan Women
In the expansive body of stories that make up Greek and Roman mythology, a handful of characters have captured the imaginations of poets, playwrights, and moralists, who have portrayed them in vastly differing lights ranging from the heroic to the villainous.
Was Helen the adulterous instigator of the Trojan War, or a convenient scapegoat for Greek masculine fragility? Was Odysseus the hero hailed in the Odyssey as a model for intelligence, patience and bravery, or was he a cynical master of sophistry and opportunism? Was Heracles a drunken buffoon, a mighty superhero, or a tragic victim of the gods? Was Medea the prototype for “the woman scorned” or a female equivalent of the celebrated hero Achilles? And, what does it matter? Why have so many writers and artists invested so much in making their case for one portrayal or the other?
During the week of our seminar, we will examine the variety of often-conflicting stories told over the centuries by playwrights, poets, and philosophers about Helen, Odysseus, Medea, and Heracles. We’ll discuss how myth shapes our personal and cultural identities, thinking about how ancient stories resonate within contemporary life and influence modern values and aspirations. And we’ll explore the place and power of stories—both story telling and story hearing—and their ability to touch the deepest reaches of our psyches.
Toronto Pursuits pricing options
All seminars are $150 off through February 28. Sale prices are automatically applied.
Bring a friend and save even more! Take $100 off your registration for every new friend you bring to Toronto Pursuits. Your friend also saves $100 on their registration. Choose your discount from the dropdown menu based on the number of friends who also plan to register, and let us know your friend’s name in the order notes.
The fine print: To get the bring-a-friend discount, your friend must not have registered for any previous Toronto Pursuits seminar in any year. Your friend must register by July 1, 2025, or Classical Pursuits will apply the nondiscounted price to your final payment. Limit one $100 discount per participant for being referred as a new friend. For example, if person A brings new friend B, person C cannot also claim friend B for the bring-a-friend discount. If friend B brings new friend D, friend B qualifies for $100 discount for being a new referral, and an additional $100 for referring new friend D. Classical Pursuits reserves the right to make all decisions about discount eligibility.
Toronto Pursuits 2025
See the Toronto Pursuits 2025 page for full details on the program schedule, health and safety, booking your accommodations, terms and conditions, and more.
Image credit: Amasis Painter on Wikipedia/Creative Commons
