LATIN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE II

Course objectives

In consistency with the educational purposes of the whole teaching course, aim of the teaching unit is to give students a basic knowledge and comprehension skills in the field of Latin Language and Literature, with the help of advanced textbooks. Moreover, it will make the student able to apply the acquired knowledge in an expert and reflective way, making autonomous judgments, communicating ideas, problems and reflections in a clear and correct way, and developing the knowledge required to go further in the studies. In particular, students are required to acquire: a sound knowledge of Latin language; a good knowledge of the history of Latin language; advanced skills in exegesis of Latin texts of different ages; a good knowledge of Latin metrics; a good knowledge of Latin literature from III b.C. to VI a.D.; some notion of the specific research tools available in traditional or computerized and telematic form in the specific area of Latin texts.

Channel 1
GIUSEPPE LA BUA Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Fall Term: Roman philosophy in the late republic: Lucretius' On the nature of things This course aims to provide students with a general understanding of the features of philosophy in Roman literature and its transformation in the late republic, by means of a close and perceptive analysis, both from a linguistic-philological and historical perspective, of significant portions of text or passages from Lucretius' didascalic epic. Special attention will be paid to the philosophical language and style as well as to the intertextual nexus with literary models, both Greek and Latin. Spring Term: Oratory and politics: Cicero's Philippics This course aims to provide students with a good knowledge of Cicero's political oratory by a close reading of significant passages from the Philippics. The main focus will be on the historical and political context of Cicero's work and the language and style of Cicero as philosopher and political man. Cicero's political and pedagogical project will also be analyzed. Attention will also be paid to the reception of the speeches in the following centuries.
Prerequisites
Students are required to possess a good knowledge of Latin language. It also of some importance that they have an adequate knowledge of Roman history and Latin literature. Familiarity with prosody and metrics as well as rhetorical figures (peculiar to Roman prose) is a basic requirement.
Books
Fall Term (Lucretius) Spring Term (Cicero):
Frequency
Though not mandatory, attendance is recommended
Exam mode
Students are required to take a written examination (a translation from Latin into Italian) before being admitted to the final oral test. During the final examination students will be asked to read, translate and interpret selected texts (taken from the authors or topics touched upon during the course). They will be evaluated according to the following criteria: a) linguistic knowledge b) interpretative skills c) historical and critical skills d) ability in illustrating and explaining literary topics
Bibliography
Fall Term (Lucretius): Spring Term (Cicero): E. Narducci, Introduzione a Cicerone, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005; E. Narducci, Cicerone: la parola e la politica, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2009; Students will be provided with further bibliography during the course.
Lesson mode
Class lectures and seminars
  • Lesson code1025280
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseClassics
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDL-FIL-LET/04
  • CFU12
  • Subject areaFilologia, linguistica e letteratura