LATN 395 - Topics in Advanced Latin Literature

FDR: HL, GE3
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: LATN 301 or equivalent.Selected subject areas in Latin literature. The topic selected varies from year to year. May be repeated for degree credit with permission of instructor and if the topics are different.

Topics for Fall, 2009:

LATN 395A: Suetonius. Prerequisite: LATN 301 or permission of instructor. How do we know that the emperor Augustus wore leggings in winter, Caligula made his horse a senator, and Nero fiddled (or, more correctly, sang) while Rome burned? The author Suetonius wrote biographies of illustrious men, and even famous courtesans, but his biggest literary success was The Lives of the Caesars, a series of biographies of the first 12 emperors of Rome. This course focuses on the life of Nero, the last figure of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, which had been inaugurated by the emperor Augustus. We read Suetonius’ Life of Nero for both its literary and historical value. Topics considered include: genre differences between biography and history, the relationship between the emperor and the Roman populace, and the survival of the empire during its bloody transition from dynastic rule to non-hereditary succession. Benefiel

LATN 395B: Latin Literature of the Late Republic. Prerequisite: One 300-level Latin course and permission of the instructor. Advanced students of Latin continue to develop their understanding of the language by studying the literature that evolved during the Late Roman Republic, including such authors as Catullus, Lucretius, Cicero, and Sallust. Although students often read selections from these authors in intermediate Latin, this course focuses on works that are less familiar, and includes rigorous study of the larger social, political, and cultural context of the Late Republic, as well as consideration of a number of interpretative issues related to the literature of this period. This course is offered in cyber collaboration with students and faculty from other colleges, and includes weekly webcast evening lectures, online assignments, and tutorials with faculty from participating institutions. Carlisle