OVERVIEW

By means of an attentive reading of a famous latin comedy", this course aims to initiate a university level analysis of the ancient Latin literature. It will give the students a good knowledge of

1. the main methodologies and tools to interpret Latin texts;
2. general knowledge of a particular literary genre such as the drama/play;
3.  the most part of the Latin authors from the III century b.C. to the Christian authors (up to II a.d.), with particular focus on the different literary genres and themes;

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to give the students a good knowledge of a) the main methodologies and tools to interpret and translate Latin literary texts; b) the most part of all the great Latin authors from the III century b.C. to II a.d. (up to Apuleius) with particular focus on the different literary genres and themes of Latin culture; c) some new methods to teach Latin at the high school.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students must acquire the methodologies and tools to autonomously interpret and analyse Latin texts from a linguistic, stylistic-rhetorical, thematic and historical-literary point of view. Students must therefore be familiar with some of the main issues of grammar, syntax, Latin prosody.

Students must also develop a good knowledge of the history of Latin literature from its origins to the late imperial age both in relation to the most important authors and the series of cultural and literary trends of the different phases of Latin literary history, with particular attention on the evolution and transformation of literary genres. 

The lessons will endow the students with all the basic instruments for interpreting and analysing ancient Latin texts (in both poetry and prose); some 1000 vv. of Ovid's Metamorphoses will be read, analyzed, under the guidance of the teacher: the purpose is to provide technical and critical tools that allow the scholar to  analyse and fully understand a classical text in all its complexity. At the end of the course and after the exams, the students are expected to have full knowledge of the Latin language and literary tradition, as well as the capacity to read and translate virtually any latin text.

At the end of the course (particularly after the final exams), the students:

1) will have read a small but significant selection of Latin works; 

2) will know, and be able to discuss, the characteristics and development of each poetic genre, the style, the poetic models and composition technique of all the texts read during the lessons.

3) will understand and be able to autonomously interpret different texts not included in the exam programme.

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PREREQUISITES

1) Very good knowledge of italian language

2) capacity of analyzing and interpreting the grammar and syntax of any text in italian or any other modern language

3) good knowledge of italian grammar, syntax, morphology

4) basic (school) skills in latin language 

5) good aptitude for studying and the willpower to fill any gaps in the field of language (morphology, phonolgy, grammar, syntax, and so on)

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures in classroom (54h, 6 CFU); each lecture will last 2-2,5 hours (based on need to complete a piece of reading, etc.); towards the end of the course, some lectures may take the form of students’ seminars. Participation to the classi is strongly encouraged, though attendance in the course is not mandatory in order to take the exam. During the lessons, students will be given advices and suggestions to prepare the exam and will take advantage of some hints and test simulation. See also italian section.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Terence, The Brothers

1) A first part of the course focuses on an introduction to Roman theatre and will present the differences between the two main latin authors of comedies (Plautus and Terence); 2) The core module focuses on reading and interpreting the comedy Adelphoe 3) some lectures during the year will introduce some of the main historical grammar issues as well as Latin prosody and metrics (with particular reference to hexameter).

Besides the comedy, the programme also envisages reading some other very famous Latin texts in order to presents to the students at least a minor part of the treasures of the ancient Latin Literature. All of these texts, or just some of them are meant to be read, translated and analyzed. Virgil's books will be read in italian or any other modern language.

2) Terence, Adelphoe 

Terenzio, I due fratelli, a cura di L. Piazzi, Milano 2018. 

3) Plinius. Letters, a selection.

Bibliografia:

Plinio, 50 lettere, a cura di G. Vannini, Milano 2019.

4) Lettura (in italiano or other modern language): Virgil, Aen. I, II, IV.

Bibliography:
Virgilio, Eneide, trad. di M. Ramous, intr. di G. B. Conte, comm. di  G.L. Baldo, Venezia, Marsilio, 2004. (or any english translations, such as Goold's or other texts previously submitted to the Professor).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Students who need 12 CFU are meant to study the whole programme (1-6); those who only need  9 CFU will study the following points of the programme: 1-5; students in need of  6 CFU will deal with points punti 1-4  (plus Aeneid Book 1, either in english or italian). 

1) A History of Latin Literature (from the origins to the Christian authors).

Bibliography:

Manuale di Letteratura Latina di G.B. Conte, ed. Le Monnier / Storia e testi della Letteratura Latina, a cura di G.B. Conte ed E. Pianezzola, Le Monnier (any edition goes).

2) A. Traina-G. Bernardi Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario, 6a ed. a c. di C. Marangoni, rist. a cura di A. Traina e B. Pieri, Bologna, Pàtron (chapters dealing with Fonetica, Morfologia, Sintassi, Prosodia e Metrica)

3) Ovidio, Metamorfosi (selezione di brani letti e analizzati a cura del docente:  Met. 3, 339-510; 4, 206 – 270; 10, 62 -219; 10, 503-739)

Bibliography:
Ovidio, Le Metamorfosi,  introduzione a cura di G. Rosati, trad. A. Faranda Villa, BUR,  Milano 1994.
 

4) Virgilio, Eneide, libro II

Bibliography:
Virgilio, Eneide, trad. di M. Ramous, intr. di G. B. Conte, comm. di  G.L. Baldo, Venezia, Marsilio, 2004.

Virgilio, Eneide, trad. a cura di A. Fo, note di F. Giannotti, Einaudi, Torino 2012.

5) Terenzio, Adelphoe.

Bibliography:
Terenzio, I due fratelli, a cura di M. Lentano ed. La vita Felice, Milano 2017 (or other edition to be chosen together with the lecturer).

6) Historia Apollonii regis Tyri

Bibliografia:

Storia di Apollonio re di Tiro, a cura di G. Vannini, Mondadori, Milano 2018.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LARA NICOLINI (President)

BIAGIO SANTORELLI (President)

GIOVANNI ANDRISANI

GABRIELLA MORETTI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

2 March 2020

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Through the reading, translation, commentary and critical framing of one or more passages, the oral examination aims at verifying the acquisition of complex skills by the students: the knowledge of the Latin language and literary tradition, the critical analysis of a text and the consciousness of different methodological approaches, and last but not least, the clarity, correctness and maturity of expression.

A separate test on literary history ascertains the knowledge of the main authors and works, the ability to locate literary phenomena within a historical context, the comprehension of the fundamental developments of Latin literary culture.

In both the sections of the test, fluent and correct italian is required.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will consist of two parts, the first one will verify the knowledge of the history of Latin Literature (authors, contexts, literary genres, chronology..) ; the second one will ascertain the capacity of reading (even in metrics), translating and analyzing the texts.

  The preparation will be considered adequate (with marks expressed out of thirty) if the student will demonstrate the following skills:

  - Accurate and thorough exposition (in good and clear italian language) of the learned content demonstrating command of the methodology and lexicon of latin literature

- capacity of translating from latin to italian

-  knowledge of grammar

See also italian section.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

other

Students are encouraged to attend the course.

Students who have never studied Latin, have done only two years or have major gaps in their linguistic preparation, are urged to take the Latin language course organised in the context of  the Cultural assets course (also used by Arts students). The Latin Literature exam requires dealing with literary texts which are by nature linguistically and stylistically complex. It is therefore impossible to take this exam without the necessary linguistic fundamentals. If these fundamentals were not acquired during high school, students must be aware of the absolute necessity of acquiring them by constantly and actively attending the Latin language course and undertaking continuous individual study and exercises.