Learning objectives
Learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding: this course aims to provide students with a specific specialisation in the field of history of Latin language.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Students should be able to read and translate some passages,different from those analysed in class, and to apply to thema scientific methodology. Also,pupils will have to make an independent research on a topic chosen with the professor.
Making judgements: Students should be able to discuss linguistic problematics, possibly within an interdisciplinary context.
Communication skills: Pupils are requested to show the results of their independent research, using a tecnical language.
Learing skills: Latin literature helps to develop those learning skills necessary both for an increasing specialization and for the job market (particularly, teaching).
Prerequisites
Prerequisites: 12 CFU in the “SSD” “Language and Latin Literature”. Those who already have 18 CFU in the same “SSD” are required to pass a preliminary written test.
Course unit content
Ovid's Pontica
Outline content: After shortly setting the elegiac genre we will go on reading and commenting some elegies from Ovid's Pontica as far as content, vocabulary and style are concerned. We will highlight the features of Ovid's language and the techniques he used to re-code the genre (elegy as a form of crying), as well as the relation with his models. This implies, consequently, a deep knowledge of the most important stages in the development of Latin (morphology, lexicon, syntax). We 'll see how some previous quite close authors have been used (Catullus, Cicero) in order to stress the relationship between tradition and innovation. As Ovidius has become the secular patron of all exhiled writers, it will be possible to investigate the modern perspectives too Vintila Horia, Mandelstam etc.) according to the students' interests..
Full programme
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Bibliography
Textbooks:
Stolz-Debrunner-Schmidt, Storia della lingua latina, Bologna 1993; or Palmer, Storia della lingua latina, Torino 2002; or A. Ghiselli, Commento alla sintassi latina, Bologna 2012.
- Ovidius, Pontica.
- reading chosen with the professor (Tacitus, Germania or Apuleius, Metamorphoses; students can select another text, on the basis of their interests).
Further readings will be assigned during the lessons.
Teaching methods
Teaching methods: Lessons will always start with a reading from Ovidius' Pontica. Students will be asked to translate and comment upon some passages. Difficult passages will be explained and commented upon from different perspectives (morphological, syntactical, and stylistic). Students are invited to participate in class: after a general and propedeutic introduction, they are supposed to comment on the text. The module will be taught by lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Students will have to present a brief independent reseach.
Assessment methods and criteria
Examination: The exam is oral and will touch upon each part of the programme. Students will be judged on:
- Comprehension of the general development of Latin language;
- Careful reading, translation and comment of the assigned texts;
- How pertinent answers given are;
- Ability of making an independent research;
- Clarity and precision of language.
- Analysis and interpretation of the text, reelaboration of contents, and interdisciplinary references.
Students will pass the exam only if they meet the first four criteria and answer correctly to at least 60% of the answers, in accordance with the other criteria.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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