B1588 - Tradition and Reception of Classical Texts

Academic Year 2026/2027

  • Docente: Antonio Ziosi
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: HELL-01/B
  • Language: Italian

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the historical and cultural contexts where Classical Antiquity has left its most meaningful and long-lasting traces. Students will also acquire the tools to analyse the complementary processes of Tradition and Reception of classical texts in drama, literature, in the history of art and music, from the Renaissance to the present day.

Course contents

Classical Tragedies for Hamlet.

This course examines how the reception of the poetry of Virgil and Ovid and of the tragedies of Seneca contributes in a substantial and original way to the construction of the ‘text’ of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy of the Prince of Denmark.

Readings/Bibliography

William Shakespeare, Amleto, a cura di A. Serpieri, Venezia, Marsilio, 2001.

A. Ziosi, Il fantasma del modello. Seneca, Ovidio,Virgilio e la tragedia di Amleto, Pàtron, Bologna, 2024.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the dedicated service (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students)

 

 

Teaching methods

Lectures in class, supplemented by moments of interactive teaching and seminaries.

Assessment methods

The examination consists of a viva voce exam. Students are tested on:

- their ability of reading and translating the analysed Latin texts
- their knowledge of Literary History
- their ability of setting in a historical and cultural context the texts analysed in class
- their ability to discuss the chosen critical readings

The assessment criteria are thus explained:
failing grades: lack of basic knowledge and inability to produce a coherent interpretation of the texts. Lack of knowledge of Latin literature
passing grades: literary interpretation of the texts is correct, but inaccurate and lacking in autonomy
excellent grades: interpretation (and translation) of the texts are not only correct, but carried out with autonomy and precision.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the dedicated service (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students)

Teaching tools

Online resources.

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Ziosi