Modern humanities

The module aims to present a profile of Virgil, in particular through the reading of the Eclogues and the second book of the Aeneid, accompanied by an illustration of the methods and tools for interpreting Latin literary texts and some examples of Virgil’s reception in the medieval, modern and contemporary periods, with the aim of enabling students to acquire in-depth and specialised competence on one of the most important authors of world culture and his influence on the literature and culture of subsequent eras.

A good knowledge of Latin language and a basic knowledge of the history of Latin literature are expected.

- The Latin text of the Eclogues and of Aeneid 2 will be provided in full in the handouts. - Publio Virgilio Marone, Le Bucoliche, introduzione e commento di A. Cucchiarelli, traduzione di A. Traina, Roma, Carocci, 2017; - I. J. F. de Jong, I classici e la narratologia. Guida alla lettura degli autori greci e latini, Roma, Carocci, 2017; - A. Cucchiarelli, F. Ursini, Studiare latino all'università, Roma, Carocci, 2024.

Frontal lessons, with possibility of exercises and individual or group insights, which will be presented in seminar form.

Attendance is strongly recommended. Students who are unable to attend are invited to contact the lecturer.

The exam consists of an oral interview in which students will be asked to read, translate, understand linguistically, analyse thematically and stylistically, contextualise and interpret from a literary point of view one or more passages of the texts presented during the course. Students will also be required to discuss one or more aspects of Virgil's reception. A good knowledge of Latin and a basic knowledge of the history of Latin literature are expected.

Suggested readings: - A. La Penna, L'impossibile giustificazione della storia. Un'interpretazione di Virgilio, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005; - Th. Ziolkowski, Virgil and the moderns, Princeton, N.J., Princeton University press, 1993. Reference texts: - Latin language: M. Fucecchi, L. Graverini, La lingua latina. Fondamenti di morfologia e di sintassi, 2a ed., Firenze, Le Monnier Università-Milano, Mondadori Education, 2016; A. Traina, G. Bernardi Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario, 6. ed. riv. e aggiornata, a cura di C. Marangoni, rist. a cura di A. Traina e B. Pieri, Bologna, Pàtron, 2007; - History of Latin literature: G. B. Conte, Profilo storico della letteratura latina: dalle origini alla tarda età imperiale, Firenze, Le Monnier Università, 2019 (or a reference book for high school students such as F. Ursini, Tua vivit imago, Treccani-Giunti T.V.P.); - Commentary on Aeneid 2: Virgilio, Eneide 2, introduzione, traduzione e commento a cura di S. Casali, Pisa, Edizioni della Normale, 2017.

Frontal teaching, with possibility of exercises and individual or group insights, which will be presented in seminar form.