Undergraduate Course: Literature and Society in the Age of Trajan (CLTR10012)
Course Outline
| School |
School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Classical Literature in Translation |
Other subject area |
Ancient History |
| Course website |
None |
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| Course description |
The course aims to promote knowledge of the characteristic aspects of an important period in Latin (and to a lesser extent Greek) literature. Literature will be viewed as a social phenomenon, for which Pliny's letters and Greek writings of the second sophistic will be particularly important, and in its historical context.
Attention will be given to the details of where and how literature was distributed, and why Roman aristocrats and Greek intellectuals alike found writing a means both of self-advancement and of coping with their own inferiority and belatedness. We shall also see how both groups filter their views of the recent and distant past through present experience. The highlight of the course will be a complete reading of Tacitus' Annals. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
One text (£12 on Amazon). |
Course Delivery Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the content of the works read;
- demonstrate an understanding of the political and societal conditions which underlie these works;
- demonstrate an appreciation of the literary qualities of genres which are often read as documentary, such as histories and letters;
- demonstrate skills in close reading of ancient texts. |
Assessment Information
| One Essay (30%); one (2-hour) Degree Examination (70%). |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| In order for a student from outwith Classics to be enrolled on this course, contact must be made with a Course Secretary on 50 3580 in order for approval to be obtained. |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Gavin Kelly
Tel: (0131 6)50 3581
Email: Gavin.Kelly@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Ms Elaine Hutchison
Tel: (0131 6)50 3582
Email: E.Hutchison@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 5:44 am
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