Focus on India's classical epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, with emphasis placed on understanding the epic characters in relation to the heroic traditions of premodern India, as well as on the role of the epics in contemporary Indian political and religious culture. Only one of the following may be counted: Ancient History and Classical Civilization 330 (Topic 2), Asian Studies 372 (Topic 40), 373G, Core Texts and Ideas 345 (Topic 11), 344, History 350L (Topic 54). Three lecture hours a week for one semester.