Interpretation of Roman literature

obligatory courses

The course forms part of the core curriculum of the first year of Mediterranean Studies, supplementing the lectures on Roman literature. Knowledge of the leading authors and achievements of ancient literature is the foundation of studies on the culture of subsequent civilizations which originated from the Mediterranean tradition. The most important aim of the course is to teach students how to work on Latin texts in the original or in translations - building the methodology of a humanities scholar. On selected examples, students will learn to analyse and interpret texts, identify their relations with literary tradition and their importance for contemporary literature.

Apart from developing students’ interest in great works of classical literature, the course aims to prepare them for insightful reading and then studying its importance for Mediterranean culture. Studying Roman literature requires time for reading the texts and, for the reading to be effective, knowledge of the relevant methodology. Practical classes will help students develop analysis and interpretation skills. On selected examples, students will learn to analyse Latin texts, identify their contexts, and follow their influence on the literature of subsequent periods. The limited number of meetings is insufficient for even a cursory review of all the works forming the list of classical “great books”. Students therefore have to do a lot of reading out of class. The classes prepare them for reading on their own. The texts are analysed synchronously and diachronously. The synchronous approach focuses on the time when the work was written, the diachronous approach helps place the text in the context of history and literary tradition. Quite a lot of attention is paid to the presence of traces of Roman literature in subsequent periods, especially contemporary times.

Most of the texts will be read in Polish translations (and translations into other modern languages the students know), but knowledge of Latin will be a big advantage in studying Roman literature.

Students should devote at least four hours a week to reading and preparing for classes, which together with the time spent in class means a total of around 180 hours.

Teksty źródłowe:

Augustyn św: Wyznania, tłum. Z. Kubiak. Kraków 1997;

Cezar: Wojna galijska, tłum. E. Konik. Wrocław 1978;

Cyceron: pisma w wyborze;

Horacy: wybór utworów;

Katullus: wybór utworów

Kwintylian: Kształcenie mówcy, tłum. M. Brożek. Wrocław 2004;

Liwiusz: wybór;

Lukrecjusz: O naturze rzeczy, wybór;

Marcjalis: wybór ;

Nepos: Żywoty sławnych mężów, red. L. Winniczuk. Warszawa 1974;

Plaut: wybór komedii;

Owidiusz: wybór;

Petroniusz: Satyryki, tłum. M. Brożek. Wrocław 1968;

Propercjusz: wybór;

Salustiusz: Sprzysiężenie Katyliny, tłum. K. Kumaniecki. Wrocław 1971;

Seneka: Pisma filozoficzne, tłum. L. Joachimowicz. Warszawa 1965-1969;

Swetoniusz: Żywoty cezarów, tłum. J. Pliszczyńska. Warszawa 1954;

Tacyt: wybór;

Terencjusz: wybór komedii;

Tibullus: wybór poezji;

Wergiliusz: Eneida i wybór z pozostałych utwórów.

Opracowamia:

K. Kumaniecki: Literatura rzymska. Okres cyceroński. Warszawa 1977;

K. Kumaniecki: Cyceron i jego współcześni. Warszawa 1989;

J. Styka: Studia nad literaturą rzymską epoki republikańskiej. Estetyka satyry republikańskiej. Estetyka neoteryków, Kraków 1994;

Z. Kubiak: Literatura Greków i Rzymian, Warszawa 1999.

S. Stabryła, Wergiliusz: świat poetycki, Wrocław 1987

A. Wójcik, Talent i sztuka: rzecz o poezji Horacego, Wrocław 1986

S. Stabryła, Historia literatury starożytnej Grecji i Rzymu, Wrocław, Kraków 2002

S.Morton Braud Latin Literature, New York 2002.

Learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

- general knowledge on ancient Roman literary works; knowing how to use the literature of the subject

- knowing selected basic terms from literary studies and methods of interpreting ancient literary texts and texts that refer to antiquity

- knowing the basic methods of interpreting a literary text

Skills:

- retrieving and interpreting information using different sources

- performing a comparative analysis and interpretation of texts of Roman literature

- interpreting literary texts that refer to the heritage of antiquity

- recognizing traces of ancient literature in contemporary culture

- studying and presenting the reception of a work of ancient culture in later periods

Social competences:

- being aware of the importance of the ancient heritage in European culture and the importance of preserving that heritage

Assessment of participation in classes (being prepared and taking part actively in the discussion), assessment of brief commentaries (response papers) written after the classes, a final test from the required reading.