13282 - Latin Literature (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have a good knowledge of the Latin language and the works and thoughts of Roman historians. They will possess the basic theory, methodology and languages to interpret literary phenomena. They will recognise the importance of certain complex themes and concepts in ancient culture. They will use the appropriate terminology of their discipline, be able to appreciate different cultures and spot the tie-ups between history and literature.

Course contents

To make the study of Latin Literature more effective, classes will provide an overview of different literary genres. The course will be thus divided into two parts: the first one will be held by prof. Bruna Pieri (starting on 16^th September 2023); the second will be held by prof. Daniele Pellacani.

Students from Degree Cycle in "Foreign Languages and Literatures" attending Latin Literature (9 ects) are supposed to join the whole course and to prepare a reduced programm (please, see below)

Students from Degree Cycle in History attending Latin Literature (6 ects) are supposed to join only the first part of the course and to prepare a reduced programm (please see below).

 

I. SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE (lessons in class)

• module I (B. PIERI): Readings from Virgil's Eclogues and Ovid's Tristia
• module II (D. PELLACANI): readings from Horace's Odes and Seneca's De Otio

A detailed list of the passages, whose translation (from Latin) will be required during the final examination, will be specified in the online teaching materials.

 

II. LATIN LITERATURE (classes; individual study):

The notions on genres and authors, presented during the lectures, should be integrated by a general historical framework. In particular, the knowledge of the literary history regarding the following authors is required:

Livius Andronicus, Naevius, Ennius, Plautus, Terence, Lucilius, Catullus, Lucretius, Caesar, Cicero, Sallust, Virgil, Horace, Tibullus, Propertius, Ovid, Livy, Pliny the Elder, Seneca, Lucan, Petronius, Seetonius, Tacitus, Quintilian, Martial, Juvenal, Statius, Apuleius, Hieronymus, Augustine

Augustine, Apuleius, Catullus, Caesar, Cicero, Ennius, Juvenal, Hieronymus, Livius Andronicus, Livy, Lucan, Lucilius, Lucretius, Martial, Naevius, Horace, Ovid, Petronius, Plautus, Pliny the Elder, Propertius, Quintilian, Sallust, Seneca, Statius, Suetonius, Tacitus, Terence, Tibullus, Virgil.

NB the knowledge of literary history will be verified in the first part of the exam

III. LATIN LANGUAGE and SYNTAX, TEXTUAL CRITICISM, PROSODY

In addition to the notions presented during the lectures, the seminars and in the online tools, students are required to have a good knowledge of the Latin grammar (morphology and syntax), of elements of textual criticism and Latin prosody (hexameter and elegiac couplet)

 

IV. AUTHORS (in Latin) Students are in charge of this part

1. Cicero: Pro Archia.

2. Vergil: Aeneid, Book 4

Both are to be prepared in their entirety, Aeneid 4 must be read in metre, with scansion.
Optional online classes (seminars) on these texts are provided.

Students from Degree Cycle in History attending Latin Literature (6 ects) are supposed to prepare only Cicero, Pro Archia

Students from Degree Cycle in Foreign Languages and Literatures attending Latin Literature (9 ects) are supposed to prepare only Virgil, Aeneid 4.

 

V. UNSEEN WRITTEN TRANSLATION

 Written translation of a short sentence, from an unfamiliar text (not listed in the syllabus), from Latin into Italian.

 

SEMINARS

Recordings of the exercises on authors and metrics will be uploaded among the teaching materials; the lecturers will schedule meetings on line (on MSteams) to answer questions arising from the study of the online materials.

STUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEND THE LECTURES are required to replace the monographic course with preparation of Vergil, Aeneid, Book VI and Seneca, The brevity of Life: recommended editions: A. Albertini (Eneide, lib. 6, Roma, Ed. Alighieri, 2005) e di A. Traina (La brevità della vita, Bologna, BUP, 2017). All the other parts of the programme (essays, literarary history, grammar, translation) remain unaltered.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

I. SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE

 
Texts: The Latin texts will be uploaded online, in the ‘Teaching materials’.

Critical essays: • 1 introductory essay  G. B. Conte-A. Barchiesi, Imitazione e arte allusiva, in Lo spazio letterario di Roma antica, I, La produzione del testo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1989, 81-114.

• at least 1 essay from this list:

• A. Traina, Introduzione a Orazio lirico: la poesia della saggezza, rist. in Id., Poeti latini (e neolatini). V, Bologna, Pàtron, 1998, 133-68.

• A. Traina, Lo stile “drammatico” del filosofo Seneca, Bologna, Pàtron 1995⁴ (e successive ristampe), 9-41.

• A. Traina, La chiusa della prima egloga virgiliana (vv. 82-83) (in Appendice: La struttura della IX egloga), rist. in Id., Poeti latini (e neolatini), I, 175-195;
• G. Rosati, L'addio dell'esule morituro (Trist. 1.3): Ovidio come Protesilao, in Ovid. Werk und Wirkung, II, Bern-Frankfurt 1999, 787-796;
• R. Degl’Innocenti Pierini, Quantum mutatus ab illo… : riscritture virgiliane di Ovidio esule, Dictynna, 4, 2007: https://journals.openedition.org/dictynna/153?lang=en#bodyftn44

NB: Please notice that the essays are compulsory also for the students who do not attend the lectures (‘non frequentanti’)

II. LATIN LITERATURE

G.B. Conte, Letteratura latina. Manuale storico dalle origini alla fine dell'impero romano, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2002 [also in Engl. transl.: G.B. Conte, Latin Literature: A History, Baltimore, The John Hopkins UP, 1994].

III. LANGUAGE, TEXTUAL CRITICISM AND LATIN PROSODY

Language: I. Dionigi - E. Riganti - L. Morisi, Il latino, Bari, Laterza 2011 is recommended. As for the syntax: A. Traina, Sintassi normativa della lingua latina, Bologna, Cappelli, 1993. As an alternative, Allen and Greenough's New Latin grammar, Ginn & Company, Boston-NY-Chicago, 1903 (both for syntax and morphology). See also A. Traina - G. Bernardi Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario, Bologna, Pàtron, 2007, chapt. I-VI.

Textual criticsm and Latin prosody: A. Traina - G. Bernardi Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario, Bologna, Pàtron, 2007, chapt. VII-VIII.

IV. AUTHORS

Cicero: Difesa di Archia, saggio introduttivo, traduzione e note a cura di D. Pellacani, Sant’Arcangelo, Rusconi, 2020

Virgil: Aeneis, Book 4, from Eneide, introduzione di A. La Penna, traduzione e note di R. Scarcia, Milano, Rizzoli BUR 2002, or Virgilio, Eneide, traduzione di M. Ramous, introduzione di G.B. Conte, commento di G. Baldon, Venezia, Marsilio, 1998.

Teaching methods

Lectures in class on part 1 and on some issues of part 2 (History of Latin literature) and 3 (prosody, textual criticism); students are in charge of part 4 and 5.

On line Seminars (see course contents) devoted to the introduction to the bases of the Latin language (phonetics, morphology and syntax) through the reading of Cicero and Virgil

Assessment methods

In the viva voce examination the students will be tested Latin phonetics, morphology, syntax and literature through the reading and translation of the Latin texts dealt with in class and listed in the programme.

The ability to produce a written translation of a short sentence from an unfamiliar text (without vocabulary, with the help of the teacher for non-basic vocabulary) will also be assessed

Students will also have to read metrically the hexameter and the elegiac couplet; answer questions on the history of literature (either on individual authors or on  genres); discuss the essays and topics of the monographic course.

please note that, as far as the viva voce examination is concerned, the course can be splitted between core course (parts 2, 3 and 4), to be completed first, and focus course (part 1 and 5): two exam sessions at most are allowed between these two parts

assessment guidelines:
failing grades: lack of basic linguistic knowledge and inability to produce a correct translation and interpretation of the text. Lack of knowledge of Latin literature
passing grades: language proficiency at an intermediate level; translation and literary interpretation of the texts mostly correct, but inaccurate and lacking autonomy
excellent grades: language proficiency at an upper-mid level; translation and interpretation of the texts not only correct, but performed with autonomy and precision. Knowledge of Latin prosody and metrics.

The assessment of the translation from a not previously disclosed text (point V of the syllabus) will influence the overall mark of the oral exam according to a range from a maximum penalty of 2 points (failure to understand the text), to a maximum reward of 2 points (autonomous recognition of vocabulary and constructs, full understanding of the text, production of a translation in correct Italian)

Erasmus or foreigner students are allowed to attend the exam - as far as translation from Latin is concerned - in English, French, German or Spanish.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Pdf files and slides containing texts and / or further bibliography will be uploaded to the course website at the link "Virtuale

Office hours

See the website of Bruna Pieri