Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 651"
COURSE NAME: "The Erotic Renaissance"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2018

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Carolyn Smyth
HOURS: TH1:30 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES: Course Type: Topics-Early Modern
OFFICE HOURS: By arrangement including weekends

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
. An introduction to major works of Roman literature and the context of their creation: historical, philosophical
and religious values.

. To analyze and examine basic forms of different literarture and literary genres.

. To analyze the content of the works for their relevant meanings and forms for their literary value.

. To supplement the literary readings with others from inscriptions and manuscript selections

. To analyze the social, political and religious ethos of Roman society and its influences on society today.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will primarily focus on Roman authors considered the masters of Latin prose, poety,
drama, and the essay in the classical period (150 BC - c.130 CE): Livy, Terence, Cicero, Lucretius, Catullus,
Vergil, Horace, Ovid, Petronius, Seneca, Juvenal, and brief selections from other writers. Readings from
these authors will be supplemented with other writings drawn from inscriptions and manuscripts to give a
broader understanding and exposure to the Roman world and the periods we are examining. The course
will discuss the Roman ethos, social attitudes, values and customs as they are portrayed, imagined and
described in literary works. There will be occasional readings from secondary, supplementary source
(interpretations) providing historical and social background information or scholarly discussion of the texts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

. Increase the ability to analyze a literary text.

. Be familiar with the range of Roman literature in the period studied (Classical age)

. Have a general knowledge of the major developments and periods of Roman history

. Understand the difference between imaginative and historical writing.

. Appreciation and interest in Roman literature and society.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
History of Rome	Livy	Hackett Publishing Co	13:978-0-87220723-3
The Aeneid	Virgil	Bantam Classic	0-553-21041-6
Letters from a Stoic	Seneca	Penguin	0-14-044210-3
The Metamorphoses	Ovid	Bantam Classics	0-451-52793-3
The Satyricon	Seneca	Penguin	0-140-44489-0

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

NONE

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
See: Assesment methods.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Absences will seriously affect final grade. Only very serious excuses for absences.

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

Session Date	Session Focus	Reading Assignment	Other Assignment
Thursday, September 4	Review of course syllabus, logistics, procedures, evaluation, approaches, texts and assignments. Historical and linguistic introduction to Rome and the Latin language. Chronological overview of Roman history up to 27 B.C. and the developments in Roman Literature. Background for reading Livy.	Livy, History of Rome, Books 1 - 3
Tuesday, September 9	Review and discusssion of Livy, Books I,II: The Foundations of Roman Society. From Regnum to Republic. Myth and history. Institutionalization and legal developments: XII Tables.	Terence, "The Brothers"
Thursday, September 11	Review and discussion of Livy, Book III: Stoicism and Stoic heroes. Developments in the Republic: Internal and External changes; conquest and consolidations. The Punic Wars and their aftermath.	Cicero, "On Friendship"
Tuesday, September 16	Hellenization of Roman, elite society. The Stoic ethos Roman theatre and drama and its Greek antecedants Review and discussion of Terence, "The Brothers"
Tuesday, September 23	Overview and developments in Roman history: 369 - 31 B.C. The collapse of the Republic and the institution of the Principate The career and impact of Cicero. Developments of rhetoric and oratory; its role in society and politics. Review and discussin of Cicero, "On Friendship"	Cicero, "Pro Archia"	Midterm Paper assignments
Thursday, September 25	Review and discussion of Cicero, "Pro Archia" Stoicism/Epicureanism at Rome	Lucretius, "On the Nature of the Universe" Books I, 5
Tuesday, September 30	Review and discussion of Lucretius, Book I	Stambaugh
Thursday, October 2	Review and discussion of Lucretius, Book 5.	Vergil, Aeneid, Books 1,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, October 7	The Age of Caesar and the Golden Age: The Latin Love Elegy: reading and discussion of Catullus, poem 63,2 etc. Reading and discussion of Horace, Odes (selection) Horace, Centennial Hymn
Thursday, October 9	Res Gestae /Deeds of the Divine Augustus, Continued reading of Horace
Tuesday, October 14	Satre in the Roman Literary Tradition, Overview of Vergil's Life and works.
Thursday, October 16	Review and discussion ofVergil, Aeneid, Books 1, 2	Ovid, Metamorphoses, selection to be assigned	Midterm papers / exam
Tuesday, October 21	Review and discussion of Vergil, Aeneid, Book 4
Thursday, October 23	Review and discussion of Vergil, Aeneid, Book 6
Tuesday, October 28	Review and discusssion of Vergil, Aeneid, Book 8
Thursday, October 30	Review and discussion of Ovid, Metamorphoses (selections)	Petronius, Satyricon "The Cena Trimelchionis"
Tuesday, November 4	Review and discussion of Ovid, Metamorphoses
Thursday, November 6	Continued review and discussion of Ovid, Metamophoses (selections)
Tuesday, November 11	The evolution of the Roman Empire: political, social, religious and literary aspects. The Age of Nero. The Silver Age	Suetonius, Life of Nero
Thursday, November 13	Review and discussion of Petronius, Satyricon "The Cena Trimelchionis"
Tuesday, November 18	Review and discussion of Seneca, "Letters from a Stoic"	Juvenal, Satires (selection to be assigned)
Thursday, November 20	Continued review and discussion of Seneca
Tuesday, November 25	Discussion of Suetonius In-class selections from Tacitus, Annals
Thursday, November 27	Review and discussion of Juvenal, Satires
Tuesday, December 2	Continued review and discussion of Juvenal, Satires, In-class reading of Martial, Epigrams
Thursday, December 4	General review Roman Literature after 100 A.D.
Final	Final Exam to be scheduled