Learning objectives
That of Latin Grammar is an advanced course aiming to provide students with thorough methodological skills in the fields of linguistics and philology in order for critical methodology, translation techniques and critical reading and interpretation of Latin literary texts to be fully developed.
Classroom lectures, which are supplemented by practice and personal tutor sessions, will focus on critical reading and advanced interpretation of the texts provided. Students will also be requested to apply translation techniques and critical analysis in a research paper on a topic of choiche that they will have to submit at the end of term.
At the end of the course students should
1- be able to translate complex texts;
2- be able to apply methodological skills in order to make personal judgements on each text provided;
3- be able to produce interdisciplinary links;
4- be able to properly present the results of their researches.
Prerequisites
Course requirement: 10 credits in the Latin language and literature SDA. Students who have already gained 18 credits in the same SDA must pass a preliminary written entry exam (“prova scritta di latino 2”).
Course unit content
The philosopher and the prince: readings from Seneca.
Classroom lectures will focus on commented readings from Seneca’s works, with particular regards to those exposing Seneca’s relations with political power. Seneca’s defensive strategies against Nero’s menaces and hostility will be duly considered.
Some specific aspects of Latin historical morphology will also be studied (selection of epigraphical texts).
Full programme
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Bibliography
Reading list provided during the lessons
Teaching methods
Selected passages from Seneca’s prose works will be read, translated and commented during classroom activities, special focus being placed on intertextuality as well as on Seneca’s rhetorical devices and figures of speech. Selected bibliography on philosophical prose will be provided during lessons and students will be guided towards the elaboration of a research paper on a topic of their choice through personal tutor sessions scaled up and down according to each student’s needs.
Assessment methods and criteria
Before being assessed, students will need to present their research paper during classroom lectures or at the end of the course.
The final assessment aims to test:
1) proper reading and translation of Latin texts;
2) critical and interpretation skills along with the ability to produce personal reinterpretation and interdisciplinary links;
3) complexity of the topic selected for the research paper;
4) oral proficiency; correct use of language; ability to give proper answers to given questions.
Students will have to fully achieve the first assessment criterion and score a minimum of 60 percent or better to get a pass grade.
Other information
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