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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CL 278-2"
COURSE NAME: "Literature and Society in Ancient Rome"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Thomas Govero
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 6:00 PM 7:15 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 including weekends
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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, Terrence, Lucretius, Cicero, Catullus, Vergil, Ovid, Seneca, Petronius.
. Plus: Inscriptions and other texts.
. Contemporary articles of interpretations
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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, and other texts.
. Be able to read a literary text in depth. (Deep, close reading)
. Understand the interrelationships of cultural movements, politics, and social developmentsw with literary expresson
. Be motivated to read and study more classical texts in the future.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Vergil, Aeneid | Vergil | Bantam | xxxxx | | | | Almost Corner | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Midterm paper (3 - 5 pp) and oral presetnation | TBD | 20% |
| Résumés: (c. two per wee) | Short paragraphs written in class based on a prompt examining content and liteaery analysis. | 20% |
| Final analytical paper of a text not read in class. 3 -5 pp with oral pesentation of paper | TBD | 40% (20 + 20) |
| Participation | Questions, responses, presence and attentive attitude | 20% |
-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. The final exam period runs until ____________
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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 | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
| Week 1, | Review of course syllabus, logistics, procedures, protocols & assessments.
Approaches to texts. Historical & linguistic introduction to ancient Rome & Italy..
The Latin language. Chronological review of Roman history up to 27 BCE- Background fro reading
Vergil, Aeneid
| Vergil, Aeneid, Books 1,2,4, 6, 8, 12 | William Curran, "Only Connect"
Mary Beard "The Romans and Us"
Videos to be reviewed and summarized in blue books. | Rèsumé 1, 2, 3; Quiz Tues, Feb. 12 |
| Week 2: | Background continued,
Review of Curran and Beard.
Vergil, Book 1
Roman History from Regnum to Republic: Struggle of the Orders and Expansion | Vergil, Book 2 | | Résumé 2 |
| Week 3: |
| Vergil, Books 2, 4 | | Résumé 3 |
| Week 4: |
Vergil, Books 6
| Livy, History of Rome, Books 1,2 | Discussion of Midterm Papers/Presemtations. | Vergil,. Quiz Thurs., Feb. 15 |
| Week 5: | Livy, Book 1 & 2
Hellenism & Stoicism
| Plautus, Mostellaria/Haunted House | | Rèsumé 6 |
| Week 6: | Plautus, Mostellaria/Haunted House
Discussion of Midterm papers/presentations | Terence, Brothers/Adelphi | | |
| Week 7: | Terence, Adelphi/Brothers
| Cicero, De Amicitia/On Friendship
Selections "Cicero" in Latin Literature | | |
| Week 8: (Week 9 Spring Break) | Cicero, De Amicitia/On Friendship
Selections, Latin Literature | Lucretius, De Rerum Natura/On the Nature of Things | Goldblatt articles
Chapter from Classical Philosophy | |
| Week 10 | Catullus, Carmina/Poems
Elegiac poetry, Sulpicia
Lucretius, Book 1 | None | | Paper 1 due March 31, Thursday |
| Week 11 | Sallust, Bellum Catalinae/Conspiracy of Cataline, (In-class reading)
Fall of the Roman Republic
The Augustan Age
| Ovid, Metamorphoses (list of readings to be provided) | | Résumé |
| Week 12 | Petronius, Juvenal On Rome,
Overview and review
| None | | Final exam date: TBA; Paper II/Presentation II due on day of final exam |
| Week 13 | Review, Petronius "Satyricon"
Aelius Aristides, "On Rome" | | | |
| Week 14: |
Seneca, "Letters to Lucilius" (selections)
The Neronian Age
Review of Petronius, "Satyrica" | Petronius, "Satyrica" | | Résumé 12 |
| Week 15 and Final Exam session | Ovid presentations | Seneca, "Letters to Lucilius" | | |
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