Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL 278-1"
COURSE NAME: "Literature and Society in Ancient Rome"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Emily Hurt
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 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:

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.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course will be a review the historical, cultural and social contexts for the various periods of Roman literature. Emphasis is based on discussion of the primary source texts and students will learn techniques and approaches for reading, analyzing and understanding literary texts. Readings will span across a variety of genres, including history, biography, poetry, epigraphy, and epistolary.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
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.

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
The Oxford Anthology of Roman Literature	Peter Knox and J.C. McKeown	OUP

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Poetry and Society Presentations I and II		20
Response Paper		10
Midterm Exam		20
Final Exam		20
Group Presentation		10
Participation		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 course.
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:

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.

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.

SCHEDULE

Week 1-Roman mythology

Class 1

Introduction to course

Class 2

Introduction to Rome and its literature

Week 2-Roman mythology

Class 1

Rome before Rome

Readings:

Vergil, Aeneid, Book 3

Class 2

The foundation of Rome

Readings:

Livy, Book 1.1-16

Week 2-Roman Heroes

Class 1:

Livy: The Tarquins and the Fall of the Monarchy

Readings

Livy, Book 1.34-2.14

Class 2

Women in Roman Legend

Divisions into groups for comedy project

Week 3: The Early Republic

Class 1

Literature of the Roman Republic

Class 2: Roman Comedy

Group Projects

Readings:

Group 1: Plautus, Mostellaria (Haunted House)

Group 2: Terence, Adelphi (Brothers)

Week 4: Late Republican Oratory

Class 1: Cicero

Readings:

Cicero, First Catilinarian

In Anthology: 108-121

Class 2: Cicero

Readings:

Cicero, Pro Caelio

In Anthology: 121-139

Week 5: Love Poetry

Class 1: Propertius

Readings:

Propertius, Elegies (selections)

In Anthology: 241-257

Class 2: Catullus

Poetry and Society Presentations I

Readings:

Introduction to Catullus in Anthology: 87-91

Makeup Day: Ovid

Readings:

Ovid, Amores

In Anthology 258-274

Week 6: Myth and Midterms

Class 1: More Ovid

Class 2: Midterm

Spring Break!!

Week 7: The Civil Wars

Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 68-74

Lucian, Pharsalia, Book 7

Week 8: Augustus

Class 1: Augustus in his own words

Readings:

The Res Gestae

Class 2: Augustus in the words of others

Readings:

Suetonius, Life of Augustus

Week 9: Literature of the early empire

Class 1: Tacitus

Readings:

Tacitus, Annales, Book 15. 34-42

Class 2: Poetry Presentations II

Readings:

Introduction to Horace in the Anthology

Week 10: Women and Witches

Class 1:Women

Readings:

Juvenal, Satire 6

Class 2: Witches

Readings:

Horace, Ode 1.8; Epode 5

Week 11: Letters

Class 1: Pliny the Younger

Readings:

Letters of Pliny the Younger (selections)

Class 2: Pliny the Younger

Week 12: Imperial Philosophy

Class 1: Marcus Aurelius

Readings

Meditations

In the Anthology 586-606

Class 2: More Marcus Aurelius

Week 13

Class 1: Wrapping up and exam review

Exam TBA