107-456 Roman Didactic Poetry

This is an Advanced Level Latin subject. Formerly available as 107-456 Advanced Latin C. Students who have completed 107-456 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

107-157 Intermediate Latin Language A, 107-158 Intermediate Latin Language B and 50 points of any other Intermediate Level Latin subjects, or an approved equivalent or admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in classics.

This is a specialised reading subject, with analysis of Roman didactic poetry, focusing on a specific text such as Lucretius's De Rerum Natura, Virgil's Georgics, Horace's Ars Poetica or Ovid's Ars Amatoria. Advanced stylistic and thematic analysis of these texts will address issues such as the context of literary production; the range, nature and development of the genre and style of didactic in the Late Republican and Early Imperial periods; the seriousness of the didactic mission in these texts; the representation of the poet as praeceptor; and the possibilities of didactic as a vehicle for commentary on the poets' contemporary worlds. Students who complete the subject should have reached a high standard in reading and interpreting Latin texts, specifically Roman didcatic poetry.

• be skilled in research;

• possess advanced skills of critical thinking and analysis;

• possess an ability to communicate knowledge intelligibly, economically and effectively;

• have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.

For 3rd year: a 500-word class paper 15% (due during the semester), a 1750-word assessment test 43% (due in the final week of semester) and a 1750-word essay 42% (due in the examination period).

For 4th year: a 1000-word practical criticism presentation 20% (due during the semester), a 1750-word assessment test 35% (due in the final week of semester) and a 2250-word essay 45% (due in the examination period).

• Virgil, Georgics 1 and 4, H H Huxley (ed). Bristol Classical Press 1992.