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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CL 278-2"
COURSE NAME: "Literature and Society in Ancient Rome"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2025
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
John Daniel Muccigrosso
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 8:30 AM 9:45 AM
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:
Tuesday, Thursday 10:15-11:15
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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:
This course is designed to introduce students to the major genres, phases, and authors of ancient Roman literature. During the course, students will:
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Read major authors in translation, including Plautus, Catullus, Livy, Vergil, and Tacitus
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Become familiar with techniques and approaches for reading, analyzing and understanding literary texts
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Explore the historical, cultural and social contexts for the various periods of Roman literature
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Read from epigraphical and documentary texts to support the literary ones
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, students should:
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Have improved knowledge about the historical, cultural, and social contexts of Roman everyday life as related to and seen in the literary tradition
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Improve interpretative skills for analyzing literary texts, including a capacity for close reading and acquisition of a critical vocabulary
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Develop the ability to examine additional texts from the Classical tradition and understand their impact on later cultures
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Develop skill in writing critical responses to literary works
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| The Oxford Anthology of Roman Literature | Peter E. Knox, J. C. Mckeown | Oxford U. Press | 9780195395167 | | | Ebook | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Oxford Classical Dictionary | (various) | Oxford U. Press | 9780199545568 | | This is on-line at: https://www-oxfordreference-com.jcu.idm.oclc.org/display/10.1093/acref/9780199545568.001.0001/acref-9780199545568 |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Written Assignments | | 10 |
| Midterm exam | | 20 |
| Final exam | | 25 |
| Quizzes | | 10 |
| In-class Presentations | These will be 5-10 minute in-class presentations on material related to our subject, including one on Greek and potentially other non-Roman precedents and the other to be chosen in consultation with the professor. More specific details will be given during the semester. | 15 |
| Class Participation | Participation will be evaluated during every class. Students are expected to show that the assignments have been done and digested. Comments, questions, perplexities, and analogies to modern pop-culture are welcome. | 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:
Attendance will be taken every class.
Up to two absences are allowed in this course without consequences. Every absence after the second will result in the deduction of 1 point from your grade. More than 6 absences regardless of the reason (that is, missing more than 20% of the course) will cause you to fail the course.
No justification for any absence is allowed in this course: six absences are enough to cover any event. Only extended medical emergencies are justified absences. No other reason counts as a justified absence: lack of registration, finger-print appointments, sickness, trips, etc. are not justified.
Absences due to lack of registration into the class at the beginning of the semester still count against the 6 absence as the student is missing parts of the course.
For further details, see the webpage: https://www.johncabot.edu/academics/academic-policies.aspx
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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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Wk
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Day
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Topic
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Assignments
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1
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T
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Introduction to the course
Introduction to Rome
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Ancient Rome, an Introduction (British Museum)
The Roman Empire (Milwaukee Public Museums)
Ancient Rome (Brittannica)
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R
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The Epigraphic Habit: Early inscriptions;
Fuerary inscriptions;
The Law: The Twelve Tables
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The Res Gestae of Augustus; funerary inscriptions, the Laudatio Turiae, The Twelve Tables
“The Epigraphic Habit”, R. MacMullen (JSTOR)
“Explaining the epigraphic habit in the Roman empire: the evidence of epitaphs”, section I, p. 74-78 (JSTOR)
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2
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T
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Drama: Comedy
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OCD New Comedy, Latin Comedy, Plautus, Terence
Menaechmi by Plautus
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R
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3
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T
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Poetry: Catullus
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In the textbook
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R
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4
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T
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Oratory: Cicero
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First Catilinarian
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R
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Pro Caelio
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F
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Pliny
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Panegyric
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5
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T
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Poetry: Martial
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In the textbook
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R
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Poetry: Juvenal
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In the textbook
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6
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T
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History
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History by Polybius
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R
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AUC by Livy
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7
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T
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Catiline by Sallust
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R
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Gallic War by J. Caesar
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8
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T
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Mid-Term Review
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R
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Mid-Term Exam
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9
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T
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Age of Augustus I
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Horace, Odes 1
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R
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Refresher on Augustus’ Res Gestae
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10
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T
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Age of Augustus II
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Propertius 1
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R
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Ovid, Amores 1, Metamorphoses 3
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11
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T
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Age of Augustus: Vergil
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Eclogue, Georgics, Aeneid by Vergil
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R
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Aeneid by Vergil
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12
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T
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Philosophy
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On the Nature of Things by Lucretius
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R
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Meditations by M. Aurelius
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13
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T
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Letter-writing
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Cicero
Pliny the Younger
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14
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T
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Biography
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Suetonius; Plutarch
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R
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Other
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Petronius
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| Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
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