Course code: LPXT111P
Subject area: Languages
Study level: Part Time
Course level: U
Ancient Greece and Rome have left us with a treasure trove of literary masterpieces. Starting with the epic poems attributed to Homer, which depict the glories and horrors of war and the fascination and terror of travel at sea, and continuing with lyric poetry, Classical Athenian theatre, history, and even novels, Ancient Greek authors have touched and in fact defined all literary genres. In Rome, Latin authors took up and refined this literary material, giving us unique masterpieces of prose and poetry, from Cicero to Catullus, from Virgil to the histories of Tacitus. And then there is the philosophy: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle in Greece, Seneca, the Stoics, and the fascinating philosophical poetry of Lucretius in Rome. All these texts have left their marks in the literature of Western and Eastern Europe, interacting in complex ways with the new worldview brought in by Christianity as the Roman empire started to collapse.
Ancient Greek and Latin are often considered the two ‘Classical’ languages of European thought and culture. This definition is problematic in many ways, not least because it has historically meant that access to the culture and texts of Ancient Greek and Latin thought has been the prerogative of whoever could access higher education. This course offers a completely different perspective on ‘Classical’ literature, one that is accessible to anyone and only requires a fascination with reading and learning!
Voracious readers of all kinds of literature will find this course engaging and thought-provoking; however, this course is also suited to people who have gained a fascination for the ancient world through different means, be it movies, television, or video games, and want to expand their knowledge of these cultures through some fun, entertaining, and often moving reading.
Please note there will be no teaching session on 31/05/23.
The sections will be organised thematically, and will cover the following topics from the perspective of both Greece and Rome:
Gods and people: epic poetry (Homer, Virgil)
Love and loss: lyric poetry (Sappho and other Greek lyrics, Catullus)
Anger and blood: tragedy (Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, Seneca)
Laughter and mockery: comedy (Aristophanes, Plautus)
The life of ordinary people (Lysias, Terence, and material from papyri)
How to write history (Herodotus, Thucydides, Livy, Tacitus)
Politics: how to influence people… and not make many friends (Demosthenes, Cicero)
Myths and how to have fun with them (Lucian of Samosata, Ovid)
Each of these sessions will involve a brief introduction by the tutor, then a reading of some short texts or passages from the relevant authors, to be discussed in class. Students will also receive suggestions for further reading.
Abingdon and Witney College is subject to Ofsted regulation and is required to work with all its students to make sure they understand Government initiatives around Safeguarding, Prevent and Fundamental British Values. Information on these matters will be shared with you during your course.
You will also be asked to complete monitoring paperwork, which helps us to deliver course content to the highest quality.
16 - 18 Fee
19+ Fee
Tuition Fee: £88.00Exam Fee: £0.00
Total Cost: £88.00
19+ Reduced Fee
Tuition Fee: £0.00Exam Fee: £0.00
Total Cost: £0.00