Syllabus
Course Description: This course will concentrate on Tacitus' Annals, a masterpiece of stylistic innovation combining the pointed wit of imperial predecessors with the lofty poetry of Vergil and Horace. Though some time will be spent gaining a basic understanding of his political and cultural milieu, most attention will be given to interpreting Tacitus' complex and highly crafted narrative with particular attention to his prose style. We will end with an effort to synthesize Tacitus' efforts into the overall development of Roman historical writing.
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. Class discussion will focus on specific words and their idiomatic and cultural importance; certain confined structures in the language ranging from meter to prose rhythms to grammar; historical context; historical theory; and literary insight. Each student will write a short report (2-3 pages) on one of Tacitus' most interesting words, discussing how various other Latin authors use the word and how Tacitus 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 in the Annals including with the translation a short essay describing the difficulties confronted and solutions reached in the attempt. In addition each student will compose a short episode of modern history in the Latin style of Tacitus. Finally, in order to focus our various thoughts and discoveries from the whole semester's reading and discussion upon Tacitus' work, we will interrupt and conclude the course with a midterm and final to review and comment on important Latin passages from our class reading.
Grading:
Class Participation 20%
Artistic Translation 10% Due 11-1
Midterm Exam 20% 10-11
Formal Word Study 10% Due 9-18
Stylistic Composition 20% Draft Due 11-29, Due 12-6
Final Exam 20% 12-18 (7:00 PM)
Texts:
Tacitus Annals Book 1 (available in Bookstore)
Xeroxes (available from Professor)
First Installment