Program Overview

Introduction to the Latin Literature Program

The Latin Literature program is designed to introduce students to an in-depth analysis of the history, themes, and texts of Latin literature at a university level.

Overview of the Program

The program aims to provide students with a good knowledge of the history of Latin literature from the Archaic Age to the 5th century AD through the direct reading of texts. Another objective is to impart knowledge of the great themes of Latin literature and the fundamental range of literary genres, along with their formal and content features.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The Latin Literature course has several objectives:

• To give students a good knowledge of the history of Latin literature in its diachronic evolution from the archaic period to the 5th century AD by directly reading texts.
• To provide students with knowledge of the themes of Latin literature and the fundamental range of literary genres with their formal characteristics and content.
• To enable students to identify elements of continuity and innovation in Latin literature with respect to the Greek experience that preceded it.
• To give students the capacity to analyze the texts proposed during the course and, in general, any text in Latin.
• To master Latin reading and consequently have an excellent knowledge of prosody and metrics.

Prerequisites

The lessons include the reading and translation of texts from Latin. A solid knowledge of the Latin language is therefore required. Non-classicist students who have not taken an access test in Latin are required to pass the final test of the 75-hour Latin Lettorato (3 CFU).

Teaching Methods

The course will alternate lectures and practical metric reading exercises. Attendance to the lessons, although not compulsory, is highly recommended. Only those who attend lessons in person will be deemed attending students.

Syllabus/Content

The course will cover the following topics:

• The Pro Caelio Oration: Politics, Conspiracies, Murders, Love Affairs, and Poisons in the Theatre of Ciceronian Oratory
• History of Latin Literature: from its origins to the 5th century AD
• Recommended reading and bibliography, including works by Cicerone, Virgilio, Ovidio, and Tibullo

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

The recommended reading includes:

1. Cicerone, Pro Caelio
2. Virgilio, Eneide, libro VI
3. Ovidio, Metamorfosi, libro IV
4. Tibullo, The first book of Elegies
5. History of Latin Literature: from its origins to the 5th century AD, such as Letteratura Latina. Manuale storico dalle origini alla fine dell'impero romano by G.B. Conte
6. Propedeutica al latino Universitario by A. Traina, G. Bernardi Perini

Teachers and Exam Board

The teacher for the course is Gabriella Moretti. The exam board consists of:

• Gabriella Moretti (President)
• Dilettta Vignola
• Alice Bonandini (Substitute)
• Elena Donadio (Substitute)
• Arianna Fecit (Substitute)
• Lisa Longoni (Substitute)
• Biagio Santorelli (Substitute)

Lessons

The course is scheduled to begin on September 15, 2025. The timetable for this course is available on the Portale EasyAcademy.

Exams

The exam consists of an oral test. The assessment methods include:

• Quality of exposure and ability to use an adequate Italian form
• Historical-literary knowledge
• Reasoning skills, logical connections, and use of specialist vocabulary
• Reading, analysis, and comprehension of the texts

Further Information

Erasmus students not proficient in Italian may request a substitutive bibliography and take the examination in English. The course will be held in person in the first semester of the 2023/24 academic year.