CLLA 201(F) Latin Prose: Cicero and Seneca

Roman literature and society underwent profound changes between the Late Republic and the age of Nero, the last of the Julio-Claudian emperors. The history, lifestyles, and attitudes of these two periods are illuminated in fascinating detail by the letters of Cicero and Seneca, whose experiences as politicians, poets, philosophers and experts in rhetoric invite a comparative reading of their work. This course will begin with an intensive review of Latin grammar, and will then focus on the careful reading of selected letters of Cicero and on their evocation of the world of the late Republic. In the second part of the semester we will turn our attention to Seneca and how his letters reflect transformations in Roman society during the Imperial Period. This course is designed for students who have taken three or four years of Latin in secondary school, or who have completed Latin 101-102. Evaluation will be based on classroom performance, quizzes, a midterm, and a final exam. Prerequisites: Latin 101-102 or the equivalent.

Hour:  KRAUS