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 V-VI a .d.  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 50 chapters of Apuleius' 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; each lecture will last 2 hours; towards the end of the course, some lectures may take the form of seminars (depending on the students' ability). Participation to the classes is strongly encouraged, though attendance at 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.

NB Lessons will be held in presence. Attendance, although not compulsory, is recommended. Only those who attend lessons in presence will be deemed attending students.  The teacher, upon specific request by single students, could allow them to attend lessons remotely via Teams. Non - attending students will read and discuss an additional essay, selected by the lecturer.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1) Latin Literature: A History. (A comprehensive survey of the thousand-year period from the origins of Latin as a written language to the early Middle Ages).

Texts: 

G.B. Conte - E. Pianezzola, Storia e testi della Letteratura Latina, Le Monnier, Firenze

G.B. Conte, Latin Literature: A History , J. Hopkins University Press, Baltimora

2) Apuleius, Metamorphoses. An anthology., Aeneis (an anthology)

1) A first part of the course focuses on an introduction to the novel and will present the dmain issues it raises 2) The core module focuses on reading and interpreting the novel 3) some lectures during the year will introduce some of the main grammar issues as well as Latin prosody and metrics (with particular reference to hexameter).

Besides the course, 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 are meant to be read, translated and analyzed.

3) Introductive Study to Latin Literature: grammar, syntax,  metric. (Propedeutica al Latino universitario)

Texts: 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 (i capitoli su Fonetica, Morfologia, Sintassi, Prosodia e Metrica)

4) Ovidius Metamorphoses (Book 10)

5) Seneca, De brevitate vitae.6) Seneca, De tranquillitate animi.

6) Plautus, Amphitruo

For bibliography, please refer to the italian section.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1) Latin Literature: A History. (A comprehensive survey of the thousand-year period from the origins of Latin as a written language to the early Middle Ages).

Texts: 

G.B. Conte - E. Pianezzola, Storia e testi della Letteratura Latina, Le Monnier, Firenze

G.B. Conte, Latin Literature: A History , J. Hopkins University Press, Baltimora

2) Apuleius, Metamorphoses (an anthology)

for bibliography, see also italian section

Please, note: Beside the course, 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 are meant to be read, translated and analyzed.

3) Introductive Study to Latin Literature: grammar, syntax,  metric. (Propedeutica al Latino universitario)

Texts: 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 (i capitoli su Fonetica, Morfologia, Sintassi, Prosodia e Metrica)

4) Ovidius, Metamorphoses Book 10.

for bibliography, see also italian section

5) Seneca, De Brevitate vitae.

See also italian section

6) Plauto, Amphitruo.

for bibliography, see also italian section

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: 1-4; students in need of  6 CFU will complete sections 1-3 . DAMS students will complete sections 1-3 plus 6 in italian.