00489 - Latin Grammar

Learning outcomes

Knowledge to be obtained by the end of the course: 1) the student knows the morphosyntax of the Latin language at an intermediate level
 2) he knows some basic elements of Latin metrics
 3) he knows some basic elements of the history of the Latin language aimed to provide a full understanding of the main syntactic structures. 

Skills to be obtained by the end of the course: 1) he can recognize and describe appropriately the main morphosyntatic structures
 2) he can read Latin metrics scanning the texts listed in the programme 3) he can produce simple sentences in Latin
 4) he can translate and analyze previously seen texts.

Course contents

SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE

The language of magic: vocabulary, forms, conventions. Readings from Apuleius: Metamorphoses, Book I and Apologia (17 chapters, to be specified).

The exploration of the specific forms of magical language will be conducted through the reading of two of Apuleius' works in which the theme of magic plays an important role: the first book of the Metamorphoses, which hosts Aristomene's narrative focusing on the deeds of a dangerous sorceress, and the Apologia (or De magia), the speech with which Apuleius defends himself against the accusation that he practiced magical arts to manipulate his wife Pudentilla.

PART 1 (prof. Lucia Pasetti); start: January 31st

 Reading and analysis of the first book of Apuleius' Metamorphoses.

PART 2 (prof. Elisa Dal Chiele); start: March 20th

Reading and analysis of a selection from Apuleius' Apologia.

CORE COURSE

Latin grammar (particularly syntax) will be examined at an advanced level; basic knowledge of historical grammar will be consolidated

LATIN TEXTS

students are required to read in original language all the texts presented in the special focus course.

HANDBOOK, see below, Bibliography.

CRITICAL ESSAYS
one out of the essays listed below, in Bibliography.

N.B. non-attending students are required to read two critical readings and, as additional texts, the chapters 79-102 of the Apologia. The rest of the program remains unchanged.

Students who intend to choose the course as a single exam, or outside the options of their course of study, are requested to contact the teacher BEFORE making their choice final.

Readings/Bibliography

LATIN TEXTS

For the text and commentary of Apuleius, Metamorphoses, I, see:
Apuleio. Metamorfosi, vol I (libri I-III), a cura di L. Graverini e L. Nicolini, Fondazione Valla-Mondadori, Milano-Roma 2019, pp. 6-43 (text) e 137-222 (commentary);

For the text and commentaru of Apuleius, Apologia (the selected chapters), see: Apuleio. La magia, a cura di Claudio Moreschini, Milano BUR 1990.

HANDBOOKS
Morphology and basic syntax: Dionigi – E. Riganti – L. Morisi, Il latino, Bari, Laterza 2011 (= Verba et res. Morfosintassi e lessico del latino, 2 voll., Bari, Laterza, 1999).

Syntax at an upper-intermediate level: A. Traina - T. Bertotti, Sintassi normativa della lingua latina (Patron) 2015.

Historical linguistics: A. Traina - G.B. Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario, Bologna (Patron) 1995, capp. I-V.

CRITICAL ESSAYS
Students are required to select one of the following readings (further readings will eventually indicated during the classes):

- L. Baldini Moscadi, Magica musa: la magia dei poeti latini, figure e funzioni, Bologna 2007, 1-37.

- K.R. Bradley, Law, Magic, and Culture in the "Apologia" of Apuleius, Phoenix 51/2, 1997, 203-223

-L. Cherubini, Strix. La strega nella cultura romana, Torino 2010 (capitolo 1).

- L. Costantini, The Pollution of Pontianus’ Lares, in Id. Magic in Apuleius’ ‘Apologia’. Understanding the charges and the forensic strategies in Apuleius’ speech, Berlin-Boston 2019, 161-181.

- A. Kahane, A. Laird, A companion to the prologue of Apuleius Metamorphoses, Oxford 2001 (due capitoli a scelta).

- F. Graf, Prayer in magic and religious ritual, in Ch.A. Faraone, D.D. Obbink, Magika hiera: ancient Greek magic and religion, New York 1991, 188-213.
- S. Lazzarin, Il modo fantastico, Bari 2000.

- M. Lucciano, Socrate dans le De magia d’Apulée. Représentations, apparences et reflets, Philosophie antique 20, 2020, 183-212.

- L. Nicolini, Uno sguardo ecfrastico sulla realtà: modi dell'influenza ovidiana in Apuleio, in M. Carmignani, L. Graverini, B. Todd Lee, Collected Studies on the Roman Novel/ Ensayos sobre la novela romana, Cordoba 2013, 157-178.

- C. Ruiz Montero, Magic in the ancient novel, in M. Paschalis, S.A. Frangoulidis, S.J. Harrison, Ancient Narrative. The Greek and Roman novel: parallel readings (Suppl. 8), Barkhuis 2007, 38-56.

- A.M. Tupet, Rites magiques dans l'Antiquité romaine, Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römischen Welt, vol. II 16.3, 1986, 2591-2617 (cap. I-IV).

- J. Ulrich, Choose Your Own Adventure. An EIKWV of Socrates in the Prologue of Apuleius' Metamorphoses, American journal of philology 138.4, 2017, 707-738.

 

Teaching methods

Lectures; interactive lessons with exercises and readings of Latin texts in the original language, aimed to control the learning proces. A laboratory on grammar will be activated.

Assessment methods

-The final examination consists of a conversation with the examiner; the student will demonstrate to meet the learning objectives, in particular:

1) to have acquired an adequate knowledge of Latin grammar (phonetic, morphology, syntax) at an intermediate level, both from a synchronic and a diachronic point of view: therefore, to pass the examination it is required a good basic knowledge of Latin Language.

2) to know the content of the thearical essays included in this program.

3) to be able to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations, by performing translations and analysis of the Latin texts listed in the course contents.

Assessment guidelines:

-failing grades: lack of basic linguistic knowledge and inability to produce a correct translation and interpretation of the text

-passing grades: basic linguistic knowledge, 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 intermediate-hight level; translation and interpretation of the texts non only correct, but autonomous and accurate

Teaching tools

Materials to sopport teaching, whether in paper or electronic format, will be provided during classes or made available online

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Pasetti

See the website of Elisa Dal Chiele