Latin: Reading and Interpreting Sources II

Course goals

The successful student

• will be able to analyse, interpret and translate complex Latin literary texts from the early imperial period in their cultural and historical context;
• will understand the general outlines of classical Latin language and literature within the wider cultural context of Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies and will be able to reflect on this orally and in writing;
• will be able to independently employ the scholarly apparatus (specialised dictionaries, grammar, bibliography, databases) belonging to the field;
• will use their growing proficiency in classical Latin for subsequent course work in the RMA programme, including research apprenticeships and the RMA-thesis.

Content

The course offers a selection of the Latin literature of the early Roman Imperial period, and discusses problems in interpretation of the selected texts. Texts will be read in their original language and parallel translations. To further independent access and understanding of the texts, grammar (morphology and syntax) and literary language (stylistic features) will be discussed at advanced level. Special attention will be given to poetical language as manifest in the great epics of Augustan times, particularly Virgil, also as a foundational epicist for centuries to come. Knowing these particular parts of Latin literature enables any reader to understand literary language and to transcend the confines of their own place and time. Selected authors are of constitutive importance to the Latin literary heritage.
 
Class meets twice a week. The course has a 50/50% division of reading Latin sources and study of language. For each class, you are required to prepare selected bits of text, and also to learn and memorise chapters from Latin grammar to get a greater grip on the read sources. Throughout the course, you spend approximately four hours on translating. Translations are submitted on a weekly basis.