Fall 2008 Classical Studies Courses
Fall 2008 courses are divided into three areas of study—Classics in English, Greek and Latin. All courses are one unit. All available courses can also be viewed via BannerWeb.
Classics in English
Classics 201 – Classical Elements in the English Language – One of the most important ways Greece and Rome connect with our world is through the words and word-parts English has taken from Greek and Latin. Classics 201 will examine this linguistic connection and teach the skill of seeing and understanding roots, prefixes and suffixes that make up many English words and that reveal a lot about their history and meaning. The course will include specialized terminologies used in medicine and law. No prerequisite. Simpson, TR 2:15-3:30.
Classics 205 – Greek and Roman Mythology: Epic – Stories of gods and heroes as told by Homer, Vergil and Ovid. We will attempt to understand how myths arose and functioned in the oral culture of the early Greeks, and how they were used by poets in the literary cultures that followed. Satisfies the Literary Studies (FSLT) requirement. No prerequisite. Folch, MW 3:45-5:00.
Classics 302 – Roman Art and Archaeology – A survey of Roman art and architecture from the early republic through the late empire, and throughout the Roman world, from Spain to Syria. This course explores the meanings of ‘style’ in Roman art and the social and political significance of Roman sculpture, painting, and architecture. Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts (FSVP) requirement. No prerequisite. Baughan, MWF, 2:40-3:30.
Classics 398-01 – Selected Topies: Introduction to Archaeology – An introduction to archaeological method and theory, with special focus on the archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean basin. We will consider the history of the discipline and major advances and trends in archaeological science and interpretation while examining select case-studies from the Mediterranean world (e.g., Çatal Höyük, Knossos, and Pompeii). There will be a “hands-on” component introducing students to basic techniques of field survey and recording. Students taking this course may apply to participate in the Central Lydia Archaeology Survey (near Sardis in western Turkey) in summer 2009. No prerequisite. Baughan, TR 12:45-2:00.
Classical Civilization (CLCV) 498 – Major Seminar – All classical civilization junior and senior majors must take this course. The course comprises the preparation and writing of a major research paper or completion of a major project in the classical civilization area emphasized by the individual major. Prerequisite: student must be a declared junior or senior classical civilization major. Laskaris, R 7:00-9:40 pm.
Classics 499 – Independent Study – Staff. Available only through departmental permission arranged prior to registration.
Greek
Greek 101 – Elementary Greek – Introduction to the language and culture of ancient Greece. We will study primarily the Attic dialect of the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, the “golden age” of Greek literature. We will also read brief excerpts from the New Testament. Students will develop basic reading and comprehension skills, a working vocabulary, and practice Greek prose composition. Partially fulfills Foreign Language (COM2) requirement. No prerequisite. Folch, MWF 12:30-1:20.
Greek 201 – Intermediate Greek – We will complete the introduction to Ancient Greek using Athenaze, and go on to read in Xenophon about events that brought the Peloponnesian War to its disastrous end. Partially fulfills Foreign Language (COM2) requirement. Prerequisite: Greek 102 or permission of the department. Simpson, MWF 11:30-12:20.
Greek 498 – Major Seminar – All Greek junior and senior majors must take this course. The course comprises the preparation and writing of a major research paper or completion of a major project. Prerequisite: student must be a declared junior or senior Greek major. Laskaris, R 7:00-9:40 pm.
Greek 499 – Independent Study – Staff. Available only through departmental permission arranged prior to registration.
Latin
Latin 101 – Elementary Latin (two sections) – Introduction to the language of ancient Rome - also the language of learning for over a thousand years, the source of modern Romance languages, and a wealth of English vocabulary. Partially fulfills Foreign Language (COM2) requirement. No prerequisite. Baughan, MWF 10:25-11:15; Laskaris 1:35-2:25.
Latin 201 – Intermediate Latin (two sections) – The introduction to basic language skills is completed, while reading from an authentic Roman novel. Prerequisite: Latin 102 or departmental placement. Partially fulfills Foreign Language (COM2) requirement. Stevenson, MWF 9:20-10:10, 11:30-12:20.
Latin 307 – Catullus – A course in literary criticism addressing the corpus of Catullus' poetry in all of its surprising variety. We will study key poems in depth, and assess the corpus as a whole, in an effort to come to terms with questions such as "How good is Catullus' poetry?", "When it is good, what makes it good?" and "How important is Catullus as a poet?" Readings in current Catullan criticism and 20th century English poetry will help our discussions. In addition to improving as readers of Latin, students will learn analytical and critical methods that will be of use in all subsequent Latin courses. Satisfies the Literary Studies (FSLT) requirement. Prerequisite: Latin 202 or permission of department. Simpson, MWF 1:35-2:25.
Latin 398 – Selected Topics: Seminar in Augustan Literature – The Augustan period of Latin literature, featuring the poetry of Vergil, Tibullus, Sulpicia, Propertius, Horace and Ovid, has fascinated readers for millennia. Most recently these poets tendency towards intensive and subtle riffing off each others (and often their own earlier) verses has drawn critics into an intense discussion of allusions as well as the theoretical understanding of allusion itself. In this course we will focus on the remarkable network of allusions that Vergil's Aeneid left in the 30 years after its publication. Ovid's Metamorphoses will be at the heart of our reading, but we will attempt to ferret out allusivity in all the other major poets of the period and gain a basic appreciation of the mechanics of poetic allusion. Stevenson, TR 9:45-11:00.
Latin 498 – Major Seminar – All Latin junior and senior majors must take this course. The course comprises the preparation and writing of a major research paper or completion of a major project. Prerequisite: student must be a declared junior or senior Latin major. Laskaris, R 7:00-9:40 p.m.
Latin 499 – Independent Study – Staff. Available only through departmental permission arranged prior to registration.