Learning objectives
Good knowledge of Latin language and literature.
Course unit content
Lecture course: Painter poets <br />
After analysing theoretical statements by ancient authors regarding the relationship between the various arts (poetry and painting in particular), a number of passages of poetry centred around descriptive elements (e.g. rural and urban landscapes, character portraits, etc.) will be chosen in order to help students grasp the various types of description and specific features of the linguistic devices employed in order to suggest a scene. Taking its cue from passages from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the course will examine themes and poetics of the writer within the Latin culture of the time and the influence exercised by the genre and literary conventions. <br />
Students will read and translate passages by Catullus and Virgil containing descriptive scenes in order to familiarise themselves with the specific linguistic devices employed to suggest a picture. The commentary will focus above all on language in order to identify: 1) the lexis and syntax of the description; 2) topical elements; 3) features specific to each writer. <br />
<br />
Catull. 64, 43-93; 249-271. <br />
Virgil, Aeneid, 6, 9-41; 1, 441-514. <br />
General part: <br />
Morphology and syntax. <br />
Propedeutica al latino universitario. <br />
Sallust, De coniuratione Catilinae. <br />
Virgil, Aeneid, Book II. <br />
History of Latin literature (in one of the following editions: G.B. Conte, Letteratura latina, Florence 2002; G. Garbarino, Storia e testi della letteratura latina, Turin 2001; A. Cavarzere, A. De Vivo, P. Mastrandrea, Letteratura latina, Rome 2003). <br />
Students must possess a historical and cultural overview of all periods of Latin literature, knowledge of its genres and the main authors whose works they will be required to recognise and illustrate, their main themes, linguistic and stylistic features, and relation to the literary tradition. <br />
Bibliography
Lecture part: <br />
Reading texts will be announced during the lectures. <br />
General part: <br />
Morphology and syntax (Ghiselli, Il nuovo libro di latino, <br />
Traina - Bernardi Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario. <br />
Sallust, De coniuratione Catilinae (any edition). <br />
Virgil, Aeneid, Book II (any edition). <br />
History of Latin literature (in one of the following editions: G.B. Conte, Letteratura latina, Florence 2002; G. Garbarino, Storia e testi della letteratura latina, Turin 2001; A. Cavarzere, A. De Vivo, P. Mastrandrea, Letteratura latina, Roma 2003). <br />
Teaching methods
Classroom lectures and seminars. <br />
The exam consists of a preliminary written test and an oral test. <br />
