General information

Course type AMUPIE
Module title Masterpieces of Latin Literature
Language English
Module lecturer dr Łukasz Berger
Lecturer's email lberger@amu.edu.pl
Lecturer position adiunkt
Faculty Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology
Semester 2021/2022 (winter)
Duration 30
ECTS 4
USOS code 03-AP-LTM

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

The main objective of the module is to provide a comprehensive panorama of the greatest Latin literary works. Through a contextualized reading of the most prominent dramas, poems, and novels (in the teacher's selection) the student will find out what is the essence of Roman literature and how can we perceive ancient Rome through these texts. During the in-class discussion, we will analyze these aspects of the literary work which are more representative for the author, the epoche or the genre. The most important problem to address, however, will be to indicate which features of the text decide that the proposed masterpieces have had such influence back in their times and/ or nowadays.

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

Very good competence of English in reading and intermediate speaking abilities will be necessary for the home readings and the class discussions. General knowledge about ancient Rome and familiarity with basic terms from the literary study would also prove useful.

Syllabus

Each class will be devoted to one masterpiece (and its author) in the following order:Week 1: Literature at Rome (introduction)Week 2: Plautus as a master of deceit Week 3: Terence and a family portrait Week 4: Catullus and his poems to LesbiaWeek 5: Horace and the meaning of lifeWeek 6: Horace with a satirical eyeWeek 7: Vergil and the travel of Aeneas Week 8: Vergil and the beginning of RomeWeek 9: Ovid as a teacher of love Week 10: Ovid and changes of the bodyWeek 11: Petronius dining with TrimalchioWeek 12: Seneca and all the killingWeek 13: Apuleius, Cupid, and Psyche.Week 14: Summary: motifs, themes, anxieties.The last week (15) is reserved for the test.

Reading list

Latin literature in (any) English translation (in case of poems, the detailed list will be provided during the semester):1. Plautus, "Pseudolus".2. Terence, "Andria".3. Catullus, "Poems" (selection),4. Horace, "Poems" (selection), "Satires" (selection)5. Vergil, "Aeneis".6. Ovid, "The Art of Love", "Metamorphoses" (book III-IV)7. Petronius, "Satyricon" ('Trimalchio's feast')8. Seneca, "Medea".9. Apuleius, "Metamorphoses or Golden Ass" ('Cupid and Psyche').Comments:The more extensive (and important) reading is Vergil's "Aeneis". Plautus, Terence and Seneca's works are dramas of different length. We will read episodes from Ovid's "Metamorphoses", Petronius' "Satyricon" and Apuleius' "Golden Ass". All the (selected) poems will be read and commented during the class.