CLAS 24: Roman Civilization T/Th 10-11:20 Fall 2010 Classroom: MERR 401 Office Hours: Tue 11:30-12:30; Wed 12:30-1:30 Instructor: Professor Christopher van den Berg Office: Grosvenor 11 cvandenberg@amherst.edu I encourage you to speak to me either in class or office hours regarding both the content and the mechanics of the course I will not, however, fill you in on what you missed because you failed to attend class Attendance is required and you need not draw attention to any unexcused absences Also, I particularly recommend coming to see me Tuesday afternoons if you’d like to discuss matters not strictly related to the course (Classics in general, poetry and literature, etc.) Course Description: The course provides an introductory survey of Roman literature The works to be studied include some of the earliest extant ones of the republican period down to those of the early empire Our authors span a period of about 300 years We will read from a variety of genres: comedy, epic and lyric poetry, rhetoric, dialogue, satire, historiography, and philosophy Roman writers inherited all these genres with the exception of satire, which apparently is a Roman innovation from the Greeks and adapted them in light of their own audiences and artistic purposes The study of this varied body of literature will also introduce the culture of the ancient Romans and is crucial to an appreciation of later European literatures and cultures In addition this course will consider various reading strategies: how to analyze texts structurally, thematically, historically, and with an awareness of ancient and modern theories about textual reception (reading) and production (writing) The reading for this course entails about 150 pages per week Some of the reading is quite demanding in terms of content and language You are expected to ALL the reading and you may be quizzed on it Please note that because of the considerable emphasis placed upon textual analysis and discussion, if you fail to complete the assigned readings, you will not be satisfied with your grade in this course Required texts: [NB: Oxford Out of Print till late Sep.] The Poems of Catullus (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback) by Catullus (Author), Guy Lee (Translator) # Paperback: 224 pages # Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (October 22, 1998) # Language: English # ISBN-10: 0199537577 # ISBN-13: 978-0199537570 [Use following edition:] The Poems of Catullus: A Bilingual Edition (Joan Palevsky Book in Classical Literature) [Paperback] Gaius Valerius Catullus (Author), Peter Green (Translator) # Paperback: 359 pages # Publisher: University of California Press; edition (August 1, 2007) # Language: English # ISBN-10: 0520253868 # ISBN-13: 978-0520253865 Livy: The Early History of Rome, Books I-V (Penguin Classics) (Paperback) by Titus Livy (Author), Stephen Oakley (Preface), Aubrey De Selincourt (Translator) Paperback: 528 pages Publisher: Penguin Classics; Revised edition (June 25, 2002) Language: English ISBN-10: 0140448098 ISBN-13: 978-0140448092 The Aeneid (Penguin Classics) (Paperback) by Virgil (Author), David West (Introduction, Translator) Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Penguin Classics (April 29, 2003) Language: English ISBN-10: 0140449329 ISBN-13: 978-0140449327 [NB: I will make the Eunuch available in digital format] The Comedies (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback) by Terence (Author), Peter Brown (Author) Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 9, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 019282399X ISBN-13: 978-0192823991 The Satires of Horace and Persius (Penguin Classics) [Paperback] Horace (Author), Persius (Author), Niall Rudd (Translator, Introduction) Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: Penguin Classics; Rep Tra edition (December 27, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 0140455086 ISBN-13: 978-0140455083 Tacitus: The Annals (tr & intro by Woodman) (Paperback) Paperback: 464 pages Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company (September 2004) Language: English ISBN-10: 0872205584 ISBN-13: 978-0872205581 [NB: Oxford Out of Print till late Sep.] The Satires (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback) by Juvenal (Author), William Barr (Introduction), Niall Rudd (Translator) Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 1, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0199540667 ISBN-13: 978-0199540662 [Following also acceptable] Sixteen Satires (Penguin Classics) [Paperback] Juvenal (Author); Peter Green (Translator, Introduction) Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Penguin Classics; 3rd edition (February 1, 1999) Language: English ISBN-10: 0140447040 ISBN-13: 978-0140447040 Letters from a Stoic (Penguin Classics) (Mass Market Paperback) by Seneca (Author), Robin Campbell (Introduction, Translator) Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Penguin Classics (July 30, 1969) Language: English ISBN-10: 0140442103 ISBN-13: 978-0140442106 General Reading and Reference: S M Braund, Latin Literature (London and New York 2002) G B Conte, Latin Literature: A History (Baltimore and London 1994) E Fantham, Roman Literary Culture from Cicero to Apuleius (Baltimore and London 1996) S Hornblower and A Spawforth, eds., Oxford Classical Dictionary, 3rd ed (Oxford 1996) E J Kenney and W V Clausen, eds., The Cambridge History of Classical Literature, Vol II: Latin Literature (Cambridge 1982) T J Luce, ed., Ancient Writers: Greece and Rome (New York 1982) Course Requirements: Constant attendance, preparation of assignments, and participation in classroom discussion are absolutely essential There will be three “midterm” examinations, one of which is a non-cumulative final exam Two papers (about 1000 words each) are required Quizzes may be given regularly, and there will be other types of (in-class) writing assignments There will likely be occasional, unannounced in-class writing quizzes (250 to 500 words) during the term Points to Consider: There will be ABSOLUTELY NO make-up quizzes or examinations for unexcused reasons Papers must be submitted at the beginning of class on the due date (those submitted after the due date will be penalized by a full grade per day late, e.g an 'A' paper submitted one day late automatically becomes a 'B' paper) All students are expected to abide by the Code of Academic Integrity in completing all course requirements Assessment: Quizzes and Exams 30%: two papers (15% each) 45% : three exams (two midterms, one final, each 15%) 25%: attendance and participation Abide by the Honor Code of the college For this class the following aspects are important: 1) you should not discuss the contents of the quizzes or exams with anyone who has not taken them; 2) in writing your papers you must provide documentation for ideas that are not your own (citation of material) Responsible collaboration on daily assignments is not contrary to the Honor Code; effective team-work is recommended Consult the following document and, if you still have questions, please talk to me: https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/deanstudents/code/code Accommodations for Students: If you have a disability which may necessitate special accommodations of any kind, please let me know outside of class during the first week of term I may request formal notice from a class dean or other authority If you anticipate religious observances that will interfere with your class participation, I would appreciate your letting me know well in advance so that we can discuss appropriate accommodations SCHEDULE OF READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS Section 1: Cultures and Boundaries Tue Sep 7: Introduction to the Course: the Roman World/The Greek World Viewing: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-28-2010/robert-o-connell Thu Sep 9: Reading: Catullus 63 (also available on-line) Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Gender and Sexuality, Foucault and the ‘genealogy of the desiring subject’ Tue Sep 14: Reading: Terence: Eunuch (Eunuchus) Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Performative Context; Social Readings of Literature (Slavery, Women, Rape, Family Structure, Paternity, Acculturation) Thu Sep 16: Reading Part I: Catullus: Introduction pp 1-13 (by P Greene) Poems 1-7, 15, 16, 28, 29, 46 (cf 63), 49, 51, 57, 63, 72, 75, 76, 79, 85, 101, with notes Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: The Biographical Fallacy, Personal Voice and Persona Theory In-Class Additional Viewing/Reading: John Stewart, “Toppington von Monocle!” Section 2: The Culture of Criticism Tue Sep 21: Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Persona Theory Reading: Horace Satires Book I Thu Sep 23: Reading: Horace Satires Book II Tue Sep 28: Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: The Topos of Decline; Rhetoric and Poetry Reading: Juvenal 1-6 In-Class Additional Viewing/Reading: Stephen Colbert: White House Press Corps Dinner Thu Sep 30: Reading: Juvenal 7-16 Section 3: The Late Republic through Cicero [NB: Cicero Speeches available on-line] Tue Oct 5: FIRST MIDTERM EXAM Thu Oct 7: Cicero’s Speech For Archias Thu Oct 14: Cicero’s Speech For Caelius Section 4: Empire and Epic Historical Topics: The Transition to the Principate and the Early Empire Tue Oct 19 Reading: Vergil 1-3 Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Reading Ancient Texts: Repetition, Structure, Parallelism Questions Group 1: Marco & Tim Thu Oct 21: Reading: Vergil 4-6 Additional Viewing/Reading: The West Wing, Hartsfield’s Landing (on-line) Questions Group 2: Humza & Rachel Fri Oct 22: FIRST PAPER THESIS STATEMENT DUE Tue Oct 26: Reading: Vergil 7-9 Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Ideological Readings, Nationhood, Cultural Identities Additional Viewing/Reading: Visit to Visual Resources in Mead Library (?) Questions Group 3: Eunice & Maureen Thu Oct 28: Reading: Vergil 10-12 Questions Group 4: Alice & Christian Fri Oct 29: FIRST PAPER DUE Section 5: Philosophy and Rhetoric Tue Nov 2: SECOND MIDTERM EXAM Thu Nov 4: Begin Reading Seneca (below); introduction to Roman philosophy and Epistolography Tue Nov and Thu Nov 11 Reading: Seneca, Letters numbers 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 26, 40, 41, 47, 77, 83, 86, 88, 90, and 114 Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Philosophical Literature Section 6: Exemplarity, Historiography, Death, Spectacle Tue Nov 16, Thu Nov 18: Reading: Livy The Early History of Rome Books and Historical Topics: Early Roman History: The Kings to the Republic Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Exemplarity, Women and Rome, Historiography and Historical ‘Truths’ Thanksgiving Week: Turkey & Tacitus! Mon Nov 29: SECOND PAPER THESIS STATEMENT DUE (only upload to Dropbox by 5pm) Tue Nov 30, Thu Dec 2: Reading: Tacitus Dialogus (Dialogue on the Orators) Sections 1-15 (available on-line as “tacitus_dialogus_first_debate”) Reading: Tacitus Annals Book 1.1-14; Book 3.52-55, Book 4.32-35; Books 13-14 [i.e the first 14 “sections” of Book 1, then sections 52-55 of Book 3, then sections 32-35 of Book 4; then all of Books 13 and 14] Reading: “Deliberative Oratory in the Dialogus and the Annals” (essay available on-line) Optional Reading: “reading_guide_for_essay” Historical Topics: The Empire: Julio-Claudians, Flavians, The Adoptive Principate Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Deliberative Rhetoric in Roman Literary Culture Fri Dec 3: SECOND PAPER DUE @ 5pm (both written copy to Grosvenor House & upload to Dropbox) Tue Dec 7: Reading: Tacitus Annals Books 15-16 Additional Reading: Lucan Civil War 4.402-580 (available on-line) Theoretical and Interpretive Issues: Liberty; Death, virtus, Manliness, Spectacle and Self-Assertion, Suicide Thu Dec 9: Wrap-up Discussion and Review Tue Dec 14: THIRD MIDTERM EXAM