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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CL 278-2"
COURSE NAME: "Literature and Society in Ancient Rome"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2023
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Danica Pusic
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above *This class can substitute for one of the two EN LIT general distribution required courses. The other EN LIT course must have the EN prefix*
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the literature of Ancient Rome and its role in shaping modern notions about the customs, social practices, and ideas of its citizens. Emphasis will be placed on using Roman literature as a means of studying Roman civilization, while simultaneously examining stylistics and literary techniques particular to the genres of comedy, rhetoric, epic and lyric poetry, satire and history. Texts, which vary, are chosen from Terence, Plautus, Cicero, Catullus, Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Tacitus, and Juvenal. All texts are studied in translation.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will be a review and analysis o f the following topics:
. Historical, cultural and social contexts for the various periods of Roman literature: Regnum, Republic and Empire.
. Literary, epigraphical and documentary texts to support the literary one.
. Techniques and approaches for reading, analyzing and understanding literary texts.
. Major authors to be read: Livy, Plautus, Terence, Lucretius, Cicero, Catullus, Vergil, Ovid, Seneca, Petronius.
. Plus: Inscriptions and other texts.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course students should:
. Be knowledgeable about the historical, cultural and social contexts of Roman literature;
. Have interpretative skills for analyzing literary texts of both Roman prose and poetry;
. Increase their ability to analyse a literary text;
. Develop a greater appreciation, understanding, and sensibility to Latin and other imaginative literary expressions;
. Develop interest and motivation to examine additional texts from the Classical tradition and understand their impact on Western cultures.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Latin Literature: A History | Gian Biagio Conte | Johns Hopkins University Press | 9780801862533 | | | | | https://www.amazon.it/Latin-Literature-Gian-Biagio-Conte/dp/0801862531 |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| SPQR. A History of Ancient Rome | Mary Beard | Penguin Books | 9781846683817 | | |
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Midterm exam | | 30 |
| Final analytical paper of a text not read in class. | TBD | 40 |
| Participation | Questions, responses, presence and attentive attitude | 30 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Session
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Class Contents
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Reading Assignments
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Further details
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1
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Review of course syllabus, logistics, procedures, evaluation, texts, and assignments. Historical, geographical, and linguistic introduction to Rome and Italy. The Latin Language.
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2
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Chronological overview of Roman History up to 27 BCE and the developments in Roman literature. Background for reading Livy.
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Livy, History of Rome
Books 1 - 3
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Focus on the episodes of the Early Roman history.
Myth vs. history.
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3
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Review and discussion of Livy. The foundation of Roman society, from Regnum to Republic. Myth and history. Institutionalization and legal developments.
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Laws of XII Tables
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Chronology of the first documents.
Purpose and style.
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4
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Developments in the Republic: Internal and external changes. The first laws and their structure. The first documents.
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Terence, “Brothers”
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5
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Hellenization of Roman, elite society. The Stoic ethos. Roman theatre and drama and its Greek antecedents. Review and discussion of Terence’s comedy.
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Cicero,
“Pro Archia poeta”
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6
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Overview and developments in Roman history and literature: 369 – 31 BCE. The collapse of the Republic and the institution of the Principate. The career of Cicero. Rhetoric and oratory. Discussion of Cicero’s “Pro Archia poeta”.
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Cicero,
“On Friendship”
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7
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Cicero, “On Friendship”
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Lucretius,
“On the Nature of the Universe”
Books 1, 5
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8
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Poetry and philosophy: Lucretius
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9
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Poetry and science.
Lucretius, Books 1 and 5
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Tibullus and Propertius - selection
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10
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The age of Caesar and the Golden Age. Latin Love Elegy:
Tibullus and Propertius
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Horace - selection
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11
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Horace’s poetry
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Catullus - selection
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12
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Catullus’ poetry
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Vergil, “Aeneid”
Books 1, 2, 4, 6
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13
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Overview of Vergil’s life and works.
Discussion of Books 1 and 2.
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14
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Review and discussion of Vergil, Aeneid, book 4
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15
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Review and discussion of Vergil, Aeneid, book 6
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16
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MIDTERM EXAM
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Res Gestae Divi Augusti
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17
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Deeds of the Divine Augustus
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Ovid, “Metamorphoses”
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Read at least 5 stories
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18
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Genre, politics and social life: Ovid
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19
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Roman mythology. Discussion of Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”
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Ovid, “The Art of Love”
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Books 1 or 3
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20
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Didactic love: Ovid’s “Ars Amatoria”
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BBC film
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21
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The importance of Ovid
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Suetonius, “Lives of the Twelve Caesars”
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22
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The Evolution of the Roman Empire: political, social, religious, and literary aspects. The age of Nero.
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Petronius, “Trimalchio’s Dinner”
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23
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Review and discussion of Petronius’ “Satyricon”
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Seneca “Letters from a Stoic”
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24
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Review and discussion of Seneca’s work
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Juvenal, “Satires” selection
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25
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Review and discussion of Juvenal, “Satires”
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26
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Martial’s epigrams
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27
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Graffiti – the evidence from Pompeii
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28
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Aurelius Aristides “On Rome”
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