107-259 The Epics of Rome

This subject examines the epic poetry of Rome. Building on the Homeric epic tradition, Hellenistic and Roman authors fashioned a genre which reflected and commented on their own political and social surroundings. Myth and history, war and love, the human and the divine are all intertwined to produce complex explorations of their contemporary society and the psyche of the individual. This subject enables students to place these literary texts within their sociopolitical context and identify the insights they provide into the dynamics of Roman culture. Texts studied are Virgil's Aeneid, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and Lucan's Civil War.

• be skilled in critical thinking and analysis;

• possess effective written communication skills;

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

A seminar report of 500 words 20% (due during the semester), an essay of 1500 words 35% (due during the semester), and a take-home examination of 2000 words 45% (due during the examination period).

A subject reader will be available.

• Virgil, The Aeneid. M West (trans) Penguin 1991.
• Ovid, Metamorphoses. A D Melville (trans) Oxford World Classics 1986.
• Lucan, Civil War. S Braund (trans) Oxford World Classics 1992.