Latin Authors Seminar

Teacher(s)

Kachuck Aaron;

Language

French
> English-friendly

Prerequisites

LGLOR1731 et LGLOR1732, or equivalent level

Main themes

In-depth and interactive analysis of a selection of representative works of classical or late Latin literature, according to a given theme.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	translate into literary French representative texts of classical or late Latin literature;
2	produce an argumentative commentary on one or more works of Latin literature, including literary, historical and stylistic considerations;
3	conduct personal research as an extension of the course.

Content

The authors chosen are Claudian and Prudentius, respectively representing pagan and Christian innovations on the literary and religious heritage of classicism. Special attention will be given in seminar discussion to these authors’ use of Virgil and Ovid. After introductions that put the authors and their works into context, translation of a selection of these poets’ work will be accompanied by methodical commentary, literary analysis, and historical criticism. On the basis of readings of Latin texts and of contemporary scholarship, as well as of seminar discussions, in which seminar participants will play a leading role, students will also learn how to formulate and answer a scholarly question of their own devising in the form of a mini-memoire.

Teaching methods

The course consists of seminar discussions, led by the course leader as well as by seminar participants. It places the authors studied in their historical, literary and cultural context. It offers a commented reading of chosen extracts, and takes care to compare these readings with the remainder of the studied authors’ corpora, as well as with other authors and cultural domains in late antiquity and beyond.

Evaluation methods

The final marks are based on:
a) continual evaluation in the form of an in-class presentation of a passage, article, chapter, or book studied in the course, to be scheduled in the first week of the quadrimestre (20%),
b) continual evaluation in the form of translation and discussion of passages studied in course during the course of seminar discussions (5%),
c) a written test in the June session,  requiring translation of a passage or passages from Latin to French drawn from course-readings (15%) and the answering of grammatical questions on that passage or those passages (10%);
d) a mini-memoire concerning course material and answering a question  of the students’ own devising; the question can and should be discussed with the course-leader, and is in all events to be submitted to the course leader by email by the beginning of the eighth week of Q2 for approval, while the mini-memoire of approximately 10 single-spaced pages (in French or English) is to be submitted to the course leader by courriel on the first day of the session of June (45%);
e) an oral exam during the June session to discuss the mini-memoire (5%).

Other information

English-friendly course: course taught in French but offering facilities in English.

Online resources

Via the Moodle site of the course

Bibliography

Voir le site Moodle du cours.

Faculty or entity

EHAC