Associate Professor Siegel; Visiting Assistant Professor Hay.
Chair: Janice F. Siegel
CLASSICAL STUDIES
Courses offered under the rubric of Classical Studies require no knowledge of Latin or Greek and do not carry language credit.
CLASSICAL STUDIES 201. (3) ENGLISH ETYMOLOGY. A study of English words as derived from the classical languages. The purpose of the course is to broaden the student’s vocabulary through a study of the historical development of an important element of the English language. No prior knowledge of Greek or Latin is presumed. Not open to freshmen.
CLASSICAL STUDIES 202. (3) CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY. A comprehensive survey of Greco-Roman mythology, with the aim of providing the student with a working knowledge of a significant element in Western culture and its creative achievements. Readings and lectures cover both the content of the mythology and its linguistic, archaeological, and anthropological significance. Offered: alternate spring semesters.
CLASSICAL STUDIES 203. (3) GREEK LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION. Reading and discussion of major works of classical Greek literature. Literary themes and techniques are considered, as well as the influence of Greek writings on later literature. No knowledge of Greek is required. Offered: fall semester.
CLASSICAL STUDIES 204. (3) LATIN LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION. Reading and discussion of major works of classical Latin literature. Literary themes and techniques are considered as well as the influence of Latin writings on later literature. No knowledge of Latin is required. Offered: spring semester.
CLASSICAL STUDIES 301. (3) HUMANISM IN ANTIQUITY. An intellectual history of the ancient world, ranging from Hesiod’s Theogony-an account of the genesis of the Greek Gods-to Boethius, the man who undertook to synthesize Plato and Aristotle. Readings include works by major figures, like Herodotus, Plato, and Augustine, as well as some by minor figures, like Minucius Felix and Basil. Emphasis is placed on such questions as what the ancients meant by “happiness,” “human,” and “nature,” and how their views developed under paganism and Christianity. Prerequisite: Any of the following: Western Culture 101; History 271, 272; Latin or Greek at the 200-level or above; any Classical Studies course; or permission of the instructor. Offered in spring semester of alternate years.
CLASSICAL STUDIES 302. (3) THEMES IN THE CLASSICAL TRADITION. A study of Greek and Roman themes in the ancient world and in Western and other cultures. The course may focus on a genre (e.g., epic), character (e.g., Hercules), theme (e.g., revenge), location (e.g., Olympia), or idea (e.g., progress). Students study a variety of materials, which may include literature, art, music, and film. Prerequisite: Any Classical Studies course or permission of the instructor. Offered in rotation with Classics 301 and 303.
CLASSICAL STUDIES 303. (3) LIFE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD. A study of the material life of the ancients that focuses on the way people lived and confronted their environment. Topics may include both the humdrum artifacts of everyday life and the grand religious and political monuments left by the great civilizations, as well as ancient trade and agriculture, plagues and famines, city-planning, and engineering. Materials studied include those in the literary, epigraphic, archaeological, and artistic record. Prerequisite: Any Classical Studies course or permission of the instructor. Offered in rotation with Classics 301 and 302.
HISTORY 271. (3) GREEK HISTORY. An historical survey of the cultural, political, economic, and social aspects of Greek civilization to the time of the late Roman Empire. This course does not assume a knowledge of Greek and does not satisfy any of the language requirements. It carries credit toward a History major. Offered: fall semester of even-numbered years.
HISTORY 272. (3) ROMAN HISTORY. A comprehensive survey of the rise and decline of Rome as a world-state and as the matrix of subsequent Western civilization. Primary emphasis is placed on the social, political, economic, and diplomatic forces in the evolution of Roman supremacy in the Mediterranean. This course does not assume a knowledge of Latin and does not satisfy any of the language requirements. It carries credit toward a History major. Prerequisite: none. Offered: spring semester of odd-numbered years.
LINGUISTICS 301. (3) DESCRIPTIVE LINGUISTICS. An introduction to the techniques, findings, and insights of modern linguistics, “the most scientific of the humanities and the most humane of the sciences.” Special attention is given to developing analytical appreciation of contemporary American English, on which most of the class exercises are based. A general course for all those interested in the nature of language. Prerequisite: sophomore or higher standing. Offered: on sufficient demand.
LINGUISTICS 302. (3) HISTORICAL LINGUISTICS. Thorough study of the comparative method of linguistic reconstruction, and of modern views of the nature of linguistic evolution. Each student is required to do practical, independent work in a language of his competence, which may be English. Prerequisite: Linguistics 301 or English 259. Offered: on sufficient demand.
GREEK
GREEK 101-102. (3-3) ELEMENTARY GREEK. A foundation course in the vocabulary, forms, and grammar of classical Greek, preparing the student to read standard authors. Emphasis is given to the development of the student’s command of English by comparative and contrastive exercises and to the appreciation of Greek cultural values by close study of significant vocabulary. Prerequisite for 101: none; prerequisite for 102: Greek 101, or placement by the department. Offered: 101 in the fall semester; 102 in the spring semester.
GREEK 201-202. (3-3) INTERMEDIATE GREEK. A continuing study of grammar and vocabulary is integrated with the reading and analysis of unadapted prose and verse. Prerequisites: Greek 101-102. Offered: 201 in the fall semester; 202 in the spring semester.
GREEK 301. (3) GREEK DRAMA. Two plays (usually one by Sophocles and one by Euripides, perhaps one by Aristophanes or Menander) with study of literary form, myths, and relevant social, political, religious, and philosophical issues. Prerequisite: Greek 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
GREEK 302. (3) GREEK PROSE. Works of one or more Greek prose writers, excluding Plato and the Greek Orators. Possible authors include Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Aristotle. Prerequisite: Greek 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
GREEK 303. (3) THE GREEK BIBLE. Close study of passages from the Septuagint, the Synoptic Gospels, Acts, and perhaps some other books. Due attention is given to peculiarities of koiné Greek and to textual problems, especially those with theological implications. Prerequisites: Greek 202 or equivalent. Offered: on sufficient demand.
GREEK 304. (3) PLATO. The reading of one or more of the dialogues (or selections thereof) with attention paid to literary and philosophical elements. Prerequisite: Greek 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
GREEK 305. (3) GREEK POETRY. Readings in poetry, excluding Homer and the dramatists, will be drawn from among the archaic lyric and elegiac poets (e.g., Sappho, Archilochus, and Solon), the Epinikian poets (Pindar, Bacchylides, and Simonides), and the Hellenistic poets (Apollonius, Theocritus, and Callimachus). Introduction to Greek metrics and literary dialects with an emphasis on close reading and critical analysis of the poems. Prerequisite: Greek 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
GREEK 306. (3) GREEK ORATORY. Readings from extant orators (Andocides, Lysias, Demosthenes, and Isocrates) with study of rhetorical issues as discussed in ancient theoreticians of oratory (Alcidamus, Aristotle, Plato, and Thucydides). Prerequisite: Greek 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
GREEK 307. (3) HOMER. Selected books of the Iliad, Odyssey, or both. Prerequisite: Greek 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
GREEK 411. (3) GREEK COMPOSITION AND GRAMMAR. Prerequisite: a third-year Greek course or equivalent, or permission of the instructor. Offered: on sufficient demand.
LATIN
LATIN 101-102. (3-3) ELEMENTARY LATIN. This course is designed for students with no previous experience with Latin. The text is written for adults; the sentences and drill exercises in forms and syntax are based on classical authors. Considerable emphasis is placed on expanding the student’s vocabulary and grasp of language structure. Prerequisite for 101: none; prerequisite for 102: Latin 101, or placement by the department. Offered: 101 in the fall semester; 102 in the spring semester.
LATIN 201-202. (3-3) INTERMEDIATE LATIN. Reading and analysis of selections from Latin prose and verse, and a continuing study of grammar and vocabulary. Prerequisites for 201: Latin 101-102, or equivalent; for 202: Latin 201, or equivalent. Offered: 201 in the fall semester; 202 in the spring semester.
LATIN 301. (3) ROMAN DRAMA AND SATIRE. Readings in Terence, Plautus, and Seneca (for drama), and Horace, Juvenal, Seneca, and Petronius (for satire), with attention paid to the interplay of moral voice and sense of humor, relations between philosophy and satire, rhetoric and poetry. Prerequisite: Latin 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
LATIN 302. (3) ROMAN HISTORIANS. Selected readings from Sallust, Bellum Catilinae, Bellum Iugurthinum, Livy, Ab Urbe Condita, or Tacitus’ Annales, with their interpretation of Rome’s past by historians of the era of transition from republic to empire. Prerequisite: Latin 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
LATIN 303. (3) EPICS OF VERGIL AND OVID. Selected readings in the Aeneid and Metamorphoses; the development of Vergilian and Ovidian poetic techniques; the civilized and national epic as a new form and its influence on Roman and later cultures; Greek literary precedents and the Romans’ originality. Prerequisite: Latin 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
LATIN 304. (3) CICERO. Readings from Cicero’s speeches, essays, or letters, with special attention to language, subject matter, rhetoric, literary artistry in general, and historical setting. Prerequisite: Latin 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
LATIN 305. (3) LATIN POETRY. Readings in Latin poetry excluding the epic of Vergil and Ovid. Selections from the poetry of Catullus, Propertius, Tibullus, and Horace will be read, along with critical analysis of their art and Greek models. The intention of this course is to discover to students the rich variety in Latin poetry. Prerequisite: Latin 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
LATIN 306. (3) ROMAN THOUGHT. The poetry of Lucretius, some of the essays of Cicero and Seneca will be studied for the ways in which they present Roman versions of Greek ideas to a Roman audience, on the subjects of nature, religion, politics, and the goals of life. Prerequisite: Latin 202 or equivalent. Offered every three years.
LATIN 411. (3) LATIN COMPOSITION AND GRAMMAR. Prerequisite: a third-year Latin course or equivalent, or permission of the instructor. Offered: on sufficient demand.
updated 7/28/22