Latin in European Culture

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

C1	To familiarize students with the influence of Latin on the formation of European culture from antiquity to the 21st century
C2	To familiarize students with the relationship between Latin--Greek in Rome and Latin--vernacular languages
C3	To familiarize students with the use of Latin at schools and universities
C4	To familiarize students with development Latin literature in Middle Ages and early modern period (Neo-Latin literature)
C5	To familiarize students with works of choosen maedieval and earlymodern authors

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

General knowledge of literature. Knowledge of Latin is not required. Texts will be read in English translation.

 

Syllabus

Expansion of Latin in Italy and provinces of the Roman Empire.

Post-classical Latin and the derivation of Romance languages

The medieval Latin

Reading of medieval Latin prose and poetry

Use of Latin as a common language in different areas of intellectual activity in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 18th century

Teaching Latin in Europe and its effects on the European culture

Problem of Neo-Latin literature. Latin vs vernacular languages

Reading of medieval Latin prose and poetry

Reading of Neo-Latin prose and poetry

Latin and classical tradition in European literature

Presentation of selected essays and discussion

The final grade will consist of:
- a grade for class activity 20 %
- essay grade (several pages, analysis of a selected Latin poem in English translation) 30 %
- a written assesment grade (the student chooses three questions out of 6) 50 %.

Reading list

Obligatory

1. Tore Janson, A Natural History of Latin. Oxford 2007.
2. Riley, Mark T, Giles Laurén,The Neo-Latin Reader: Selections from Petrarch to Rimbaud.Sophron Editor 2016.
3. An Anthology of European Neo-Latin Literature. Bloomsbury 2020.

Optional

1. The Oxford Handbook of Neo-Latin. Ed. S.Knight, S. Tilg. Oxford 2016.
2. The Oxford Handbook of Medieval Latin Literature. Ed. Ralph Hexter, David Townsend. Oxford 2016.