83248 - Latin Language and Literature 1 (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with basic knowledge about Latin language and literature. This goal will be reached with the help of direct analysis of texts and documents. At the end of the course, students will acquire the necessary skills to place a text into its historical and cultural context, and to interpret it with reference to material culture, mythology, and history of rituals and institutions.

Course contents

I. Texts of the course: Readings from Valerius Maximus, “Memorable facts and sayings”, book 8 (a detailed list of the passages to be translated will be included among the course materials).

II. Latin Language: notions of phonetics, morphology, vocabulary, syntax

III. Authors to be read in Latin: full reading (in the original language) of Nepos, Life of Alcibiades - Life of Hannibal - Life of Atticus.

N.B.

1. Non-attending students are requested to add the following article to the program: M. Fruyt, Word-Formation in Classical Latin, in A companion to the Latin language, edited by James Clackson, Maiden (MA)-Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, pp. 157-175.
2. Students who do not follow the curriculum LM 39 are requested to read, in addition to the texts of the course (cf. § 1):

• Livy, Ab urbe condita, book 22;
• Cicero, Pro Caelio.
  

IV. Critical essays (cf. bibliography).

V. Seminars

1° Semester: Latin Language: Basic and Intermediate 1st level. Tutor: dr. L. Galli (leonardo.galli3@unibo.it).

• Course timetable: https://www.unibo.it/it/didattica/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2023/477205/orariolezioni
  
• Attendance is highly recommended, especially for the students who do not have basic knowledge of the Latin language, or who need to consolidate their previously acquiredknowledge. The achievement of an adequate level of knowledge of the Latin language is essential in order to profitably follow the lessons of the course.
  
• Before attending the first lesson, students are required to:

1. watch the video lessons 1-3 (and consult the attached materials) available at the following web address: https://elearning-pro.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=1162
2. read the document "NOZIONI PRELIMINARI DI ANALISI LOGICA", available among the teaching materials of the course.
   

2° Semester: Nepos, Life of Alcibiades - Life of Hannibal (Tutor: dott. L. Galli). Attendance is highly recommended for all students. Course timetable:

• Course timetable: TBD.
  

Readings/Bibliography

I. Texts of the course:

The reference Latin text is that established by J. Briscoe (ed.), Valerius Maximus, Facta et dicta memorabilia, Book 8, Berlin/Boston 2019; the passages to be translated will be included among the course materials. A printed volume of Valerius Maximus' work, with Latin text and Italian translation, might be useful: see e.g. Valerio Massimo, Detti e fatti memorabili, a cura di Rino Faranda, Torino (UTET) 2009.

II. Core course:

I. Dionigi – E. Riganti – L. Morisi, Verba et res. Morfosintassi e lessico del latino, 2 voll., Bari, Laterza, 1999 ristampato con il titolo Il latino. Grammatica ed esercizi, Bari, Laterza, 2011; A. Traina – G. Bernardi Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario, Bologna, Pàtron, 1995, capp. I-VI

III. Authors:

Nepos, De viris illustribus:

1. Life of Atticus: a translation with commentary (by L. Galli) will be provided among the course materials.
2. Vita di Annibale: Bret Mulligan, Cornelius Nepos, Life of Hannibal: Latin Text, Notes, Maps, Illustrations and Vocabulary. Dickinson College commentaries. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers, 2015 (online, open source).
3. Vita di Alcibiade: F. Ginelli, Cornelius Nepos, The Commanders of the Fifth Century BCE, Oxford 2022.
   

Additional texts for the students not following the curriculum LM 39. The following editions and commentaries are recommended:

• Livy, Ab urbe condita Book XXII, ed. by J. Briscoe, Cambridge 2020;
• Cicerone, In difesa di Marco Celio, a cura di A. Cavarzere, Venezia 2001; M.T. Cicero, Pro M. Caelio oratio, ed. with text, introduction and commentary by R.G. Austin, 2. ed, Oxford (Clarendon Press) 1988.
  

IV. Critical essays:

• H. Westphal, “Imperium suum paulatim destruxit”: The Concept of “moderatio” in Valerius Maximus’ “Facta et dicta memorabilia” 4.1, “Acta Classica” 58, 2015, pp. 191-208;
• R. Langlands, ‘Reading for the Moral’ in Valerius Maximus: the Case of “severitas”, “CCJ” 54, 2008, pp. 160-187;
• R. Langlands, Roman « exempla » and situation ethics: Valerius Maximus and Cicero « de Officiis », "JRS" 101 (2011) 100-122.

Teaching methods

Classes are organized in form of lectures. During the seminars (optional), students will be required to discuss and interact, and to take part in some tests to verify their level of knowledge.

Part I and partially part II of the course will be dealt with during classes; part II, III and IV are placed under the responsibility of the students. However, part II and III will be the object of a special seminar to support the students.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of two parts:

- a written multiple choice Latin test, computer-assisted, concerning morphology and elemets of syntax.

N.B. The written test is compulsory and must be overcome before the oral exam of Lingua Latina. A negative mark prevents from accessing to the viva voce examination. The test remains valid for 6 months. The test is passed with 18/30.

- A viva voce examination: the students will be tested in Latin phonetics, morphology and syntax through the reading and translation of the Latin texts dealt with in class and listed in the program.

- the exam cannot be divided into parts.

Assessment guidelines:

- failing grades:lack of basic linguistic knowledge (phonetics, morphology, basic syntax) and inability to produce a correct translation and a correct interpretation of the texts.

- passing grades: proficiency in the basic linguistic skills; translation and interpretation of texts mostly correct, but inaccurate and lacking in autonomy.

- positive grades: language proficiency at an intermediate level; translation and interpretation of the texts fully correct, but not always accurate and autonomous.

- excellent grades: language proficiency at an upper-mid level; translation and interpretation of the texts not only correct but performed with autonomy and precision.

Teaching tools

1. Online teaching materials (e.g. slides)
   
2. Seminars (cf. course content) aimed to the introduction to the bases of the Latin language (phonetics, morphology and syntax).
3. Latin Video lessons, available at https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=34645 

Office hours

See the website of Luigi Pirovano