Latin 398, Neronian Literature

Spring, 2001
Dept. Of Classical Studies
Walt Stevenson
U. Of Richmond
NC 211
Office Hours: TR 11:00-12:00 (or by appt.)

Syllabus

Course Description:

 This course will study the literature composed and published in the time of the emperor Nero, perhaps the most theatrical and enigmatic period of Roman literature. We will concentrate on Seneca who tutored and advised Nero while also establishing himself as the foremost philosopher and dramatist of his age. We will first study Seneca's prose teachings on literary style and its moral content, and then we will apply his teachings to his own poetry, in this case his Thyestes, moving on to look at various prose works and finishing with his nephew Lucan. Throughout our reading we will attempt to solve the many riddles of Neronian taste. Why so much gratuitous violence? Why such bloated language? Why so much explicit sexual moralizing? Why so theatrical? In answering these questions we will approach an understanding of a period in some ways strangely similar to our own.

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Course Requirements:

 Above all else, students will be required to study the assigned texts carefully and prepare thoughtful reactions to them, whether in the form of developed questions or tentative insights. Each student will write a short report (2-3 pages) on one of Seneca's most interesting words, discussing how various other Latin authors use the word and how Seneca himself uses the word throughout his works. Each student will attempt an artistic translation of a short passage (10 to 20) lines from the reading including with the translation a short essay describing the difficulties confronted and solutions reached in the attempt. As an exercise in critical thought, each student will present a scholarly article on the Neronian period to the class. In addition each student will compose a short piece the style of one of the authors studied in this course. Finally, in order to focus our various thoughts and discoveries from the whole semesteršs reading and discussion, we will interrupt and conclude the course with a short essay midterm and final commenting on important Latin passages from our class reading.

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Grading

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Texts

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Policies

[N.B. The instructor does not allow make up tests under any circumstances, nor does he accept late work.]

Attendance: Since class participation is a significant graded percentage of this course, each class a student misses will detract from this grade. Several absences will not do permanent damage, but more than 5 (out of 28 meetings -- i.e. almost 20%) will be serious.

Honor Policy: Like any academic work at UR all work done for this course falls under the honor code. If you have any doubt what constitutes "unauthorized assistance," please come and talk to the instructor before trying it.

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Last modified 11/20/00