LAT 251
Spring 2011 not offered
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Nero--artist or monster (or both)? This course will focus on the personality and politics of the emperor and the reaction he evoked in contemporary and subsequent accounts of his reign, concentrating especially on the powerful picture of Nero and the Neronian regime painted by the Roman historian Tacitus in his ANNALS, with supplementary evidence from Suetonius' LIFE OF NERO. Topics discussed will include Tacitus as a historian, dissimulation and theatricality in Neronian Rome, the world turned upside down--reversal of values in the period, the survival strategies of the Roman ruling classes, and how to die well. In connection with the last subject, we will read a few of Seneca's MORAL EPISTLES, giving a Stoic perspective on contemporary insecurities and the threat to identity and spiritual integrity they presented. |
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Essential Capabilities:
None |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA CLAS |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CLST) |
Major Readings:
Selections from: Tacitus, ANNALS 14-16
Suetonius, LIFE OF NERO
Seneca, LETTERS
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Examinations and Assignments:
Assignments in Latin for each class; a short take-home translation exam and a short paper on Tacitus' style or narrative; final, longer paper. Some reading in secondary literature. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Students should have two years of college Latin or the equivalent. In doubtful cases consult the instructor. Regular class attendance is expected. |
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