Course Description

Readings from the Latin epic poets Ennius, Vergil, Lucan, and others.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to direct seminar sessions and write more extensive research papers.

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Athena Title

Roman Epic Poetry

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Prerequisite

LATN 4000 or permission of department

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Semester Course Offered

Not offered on a regular basis.

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Course Objectives

1. TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO READ, SCAN, AND TRANSLATE LATIN EPIC POETRY WITH SKILL AND EASE. 2. TO GAIN A KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY, THE NATURE, THE STYLE, AND THE CONTENT OF LATIN EPIC. 3. TO LEARN TO APPRECIATE READING THE EPICS OF ENNIUS, VERGIL, LUCAN, AND OTHERS IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. 4. TO CONSIDER THE PLACE AND IMPORTANCE OF EPIC POETRY IN LATIN LITERATURE. 5. TO ENGAGE IN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SEMANTIC, SYNTACTIC, GRAMMATICAL, STYLISTIC, METRICAL AND POETIC EVIDENCE IN ROMAN EPIC POETRY. 6. TO LEARN TO PRODUCE WRITING APPROPRIATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF EPIC POETRY AND TO THE DISCIPLINE OF CLASSICS.

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Topical Outline

I. HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF ROMAN EPIC A. ITS PREDECESSORS IN GREEK EPIC B. ARCHAIC ROMAN EPIC C. CLASSICAL ROMAN EPIC D. BAROQUE ROMAN EPIC II. LIVES AND WRITINGS OF THE PRINCIPAL LATIN EPIC POETS A. ENNIUS B. VERGIL C. LUCAN D. OTHERS III. DETAILED STUDY OF ONE OR MORE OF THE ANCIENT LATIN EPIC POEMS A. READING, TRANSLATION, AND SCANNING PRACTICE B. HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE C. THE POET'S STYLE AND PURPOSE IV. STUDENT REPORTS (ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS)

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