Classics

The aim of this course is to give students an overview of Latin Literature from its origin to the Iind century CE (Apuleius), with detailed insights on periodization, literary genres, and focus on some masterpieces’ structure and contents. The literary history will be enriched by selected passages from main authors. A Classroom space will be created to share presentations of authors (PPTX and so on) and further bibliography. Selected Passages: Ennius: the poet philologist (Ann. 213-7 V. = 231-4 ROL = 206-11 FRL) Terence: the definition of humanitas (Heaut. 53-86) Catullus: a love story (C. 5, 11, 51, 85) and a political attack (49) Lucretius: the proem (1.1-43); Epicurus against the religio (1.62-71); the philosopher ‘spectator’ of life (2.1-13); against the fear of death (3.830-42); the effects of the plague (6.1276-86) Caesar: Vercingetorix’s surrender (BG 7.89); Pompey’s luxurious camp (BC 3.96) Cicero: the orator (Verr. 5.28; Catil. 1.1-3; Cael. 49-50); the rhetor (de or. 1.30-34); the private man (Att. 7.20) Sallust: the paradoxical portrait (Cat. 5.1-8), the archaeology of decline (Cat. 12); Marius’ speech (Iug. 85) Virgil: the proem (Aen. 1.1-11), Dido’s last words (4.651-8); Marcellus’ eulogy (6.875-86); Turnus’ death (12.926-52). Horace: carpe diem (C. 1.11), Bandusiae spring (3.13); non omnis moriar (3.30); strenua inertia (epist. 1.11.22-30) Ovid: self-irony (A. pr.); master of love (Ars 1.1-8); metamorphoses (Met. 1.1-4); Pygmalion (10.243-255) Seneca: the value of time (Ep. 1); a stressing life (Tranq. 1.7-9) Lucan: the proem (1.1-14) Petronius: Trimalchio (26.7-27.6); Fortunata (67) Martial: eulogy of poetic license (11.15); an epitaph (5.34) Tacitus: the Germans (G. 2 and 4); Agrippina’s murder (Ann. 14.4-8) Apuleius: the opening (Met. 1.1); Psyche’s epiphany (5.22-3) Suetonius: Nero’s description (Nero 51)

Students must have at least elementary skills in Latin morphology and syntax.

Bibliography G. B. Conte, Latin Literature, A History, Baltimore-London 1999, pp. 1-571 Selected passages of Latin literature (downloadable on Classroom): list of passages Ennius: the poet philologist (Ann. 213-7 V. = 231-4 ROL = 206-11 FRL); Terence: the definition of humanitas (Heaut. 53-86); Catullus: a love story (C. 5, 11, 51, 85) and a political attack (49); Lucretius: the proem (1.1-43); Epicurus against the religio (1.62-71); the philosopher ‘spectator’ of life (2.1-13); against the fear of death (3.830-42); the effects of the plague (6.1276-86); Caesar: Vercingetorix’s surrender (BG 7.89); Pompey’s luxurious camp (BC 3.96); Cicero: the orator (Verr. 5.28; Catil. 1.1-3; Cael. 49-50); the rhetor (de or. 1.30-34); the private man (Att. 7.20); Sallust: the paradoxical portrait (Cat. 5.1-8), the archaeology of decline (Cat. 12); Marius’ speech (Iug. 85); Virgil: the proem (Aen. 1.1-11), Dido’s last words (4.651-8); Marcellus’ eulogy (6.875-86); Turnus’ death (12.926-52);Horace: carpe diem (C. 1.11), Bandusiae spring (3.13); non omnis moriar (3.30); strenua inertia (epist. 1.11.22-30); Ovid: self-irony (A. pr.); master of love (Ars 1.1-8); metamorphoses (Met. 1.1-4); Pygmalion (10.243-255); Seneca: the value of time (Ep. 1); a stressing life (Tranq. 1.7-9); Lucan: the proem (1.1-14); Petronius: Trimalchio (26.7-27.6); Fortunata (67); Martial: eulogy of poetic license (11.15); an epitaph (5.34); Tacitus: the Germans (G. 2 and 4); Agrippina’s murder (Ann. 14.4-8); Apuleius: the opening (Met. 1.1); Psyche’s epiphany (5.22-3); Suetonius: Nero’s description (Nero 51) F. M. Wheelock, Wheelock’s Latin, Glasgow 2011

Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended given the complexity of the subjects

Written examination, 3 hours. The student will be asked to a) answer to 6 questions (max 10 lines) about Latin literature regarding archaic period, golden age (I BCE-Augustan era) and Imperial age, with different level of generalization (see examples); b) translate in English and shortly comment one of the passages listed in the Program, without any dictionary. Each literature question will count 3 points, while the translation with comm. will count 12 points. To reach the maximum score, students shall write a plain, readable and complete text; as for the questions about literature, they shall insert detailed notions about 1) chronology and geographical location; 2) literary genre and structure of the work(s); 3) content (eventually, with examples). As for the translation, it shall be complete and correct from a morphological, syntactical and lexical point of view (max 6 points), while the commentary shall contextualize the passage with reference to the work, its literary genre, content and structure, the author and the date of composition, focusing also on keywords (max 6 points). To pass the exam, the student must get a grade not below 18/30. Students must demonstrate to have acquired a sufficient command of course topics; they are also expected to show adequate linguistic and translating skills. In order to hit a score of 30/30 cum laude, students must show excellent a detailed competence in Latin Literature, good translating skills, and a critical attitude.

Further Readings: F.L. Moreland, R.M. Fleischer, Latin, An Intensive Course, Berkeley 2004 E. Fantham, Roman Literary Culture: From Plautus to Macrobius, Baltimore 2013 N. Goldman, L. Szymanski, English Grammar for Students of Latin, Ann Arbor MI 2004 G. Jennings Laing, Masterpieces of Latin Literature, Whitefish MO 2007 P. Jones, K. C. Sidwell, The World of Rome. An Introduction to Roman Culture, Cambridge 1997

In every lesson, the teacher will show a presentation about an author or a literary trend, which will highlight their most important aspects regarding chronology, literary genres, work structure and work contents. The presentations, which will be afterwards uploaded on Classroom, will be commented with the students, and they will be invited to do the same. Some lessons will be thus held by students themselves, on a voluntary base.