Beast Literature

From Aesop's fables to animated films, philosophical dialogues to furry graphic novels, we often imagine animals speaking as humans do. But what are we saying when we use animals to talk with and about one another and ourselves? And what do cultural products featuring articulate beasts say about our attitudes towards humans and animals and the lines that we draw between them? This course examines animal anthropomorphism as a mode of thought and expression in ancient Greece and Rome, Medieval Europe, and the modern world. Please contact Prof. Polt (polt@bc.edu) directly for permission to enroll in this course.