CLLA 404 Vergil's Aeneid (Not offered 2006-2007; to be offered 2008-2009)
Although he used the Iliad and Odyssey as literary models, Vergil created a
thoroughly Roman-and Italian-epic with the Aeneid, a poem which
addresses contemporary politics (the principate of Augustus) through the figure
of Aeneas, the mythical hero of Troy. We will pay close attention to the political
as well as the literary background of Rome's greatest literary achievement, and
one of the major issues we will explore is the degree to which Vergil's Aeneid
provides a new model of the Roman military and political leader.
Evaluation will be based on contributions to class, a midterm exam, and a final
paper.
Prerequisites: Latin 202 or permission of instructor.