Classics

http://www.stolaf.edu/stolaf/depts/classics/

Chair, 2000-01: Anne H. Groton, Greek and Roman drama, classical languages and literature

Faculty, 2000-01: Gwendolyn Compton-Engle, Greek and Roman drama, classical languages and literature; J. Kent Gregory, Greek and Roman history, Classical languages and literature; James M. May, Greek and Roman rhetoric, classical languages and literature; Steve Reece, Greek and Roman epic, classical languages and literature

Long ago the Greeks and Romans conceived the idea of the liberal arts and made them the basis of higher education. Today the Department of Classics keeps that classical tradition alive at St. Olaf by offering courses in the languages, literature, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Studying antiquity gives students perspective on their own place in history; it increases their understanding of the past, of the world in which Christianity was born.

Many students satisfy the foreign language requirement with three semesters of Greek or Latin. Greek is especially helpful for pre-seminary and pre-medicine students, Latin for pre-law students. Either language makes a good match with the Great Conversation program.

Every term the Department of Classics offers at least one course that demands no knowledge of Greek or Latin and fulfills General Education requirements; among the most popular of these Classics courses are Greek and Roman Myth and the annual Classics Interim in Greece.

Students often combine a major in Greek or Latin with another major. A classical background enriches one's experiences in college and in later life, while the verbal and analytical skills acquired by learning classical languages are of lasting benefit in whatever career one chooses.

OVERVIEW OF THE MAJORS

Three different majors in classical language are available to St. Olaf students: Greek, Latin, and Classics. The Classics major combines Greek and Latin and is the most rigorous. All three majors have as their objectives understanding of classical language at an advanced level, skill in translating and analyzing classical literature of different genres, and basic knowledge about classical civilization. Potential Latin teachers may complete a Latin Education major. Ancient Studies and Medieval Studies, two interdisciplinary majors overseen by the Department of Classics, are described elsewhere in this catalog.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJORS

Requirements for the Greek Major
Greek 111, 112, 231, four courses in Greek above the 231 level, one course in Classics (in English translation) or in Greek history (or its equivalent). Students who begin Greek at the 112 level or higher must complete a minimum of six courses in Greek and two in Classics (in English translation) or Greek history (or its equivalent).

Requirements for the Latin Major
Latin 111, 112, 231, four courses in Latin above the 231 level, one course in Classics (in English translation) or in Roman history (or its equivalent). Students who begin Latin at the 112 level or higher must complete a minimum of six courses in Latin and two in Classics (in English translation) or Roman history (or its equivalent).

Requirements for the Classics Major
Three courses in Greek or Latin above the 231 level, any three courses in the other language, one course in Greek or Roman history (or its equivalent) or Classics (in English translation). Students who begin one language at the 231 level or higher must complete a minimum of six courses in the languages, one in Greek or Roman history (or its equivalent), and one in Classics (in English translation).

Requirements for the Latin Education Major
Latin 111, 112, 231, four courses in Latin above the 231 level, one course in Roman history (or its equivalent), Education 349, and all other general requirements of the Teacher Education Program (Consult Education Department faculty). Students who begin Latin at the 112 level or higher must complete a minimum of six courses in Latin, one in Roman history (or its equivalent), and one in Classics (in English translation).

DISTINCTION

To attain distinction in Classics, a student must demonstrate talent with classical languages and literature, skill in conducting research on a classical topic, and broad knowledge of classical civilization. Specific guidelines are available from the Classics Department. Classics majors who wish to pursue distinction should notify the department chair no later than January 1 of their senior year.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

For more than 25 years St. Olaf students have had the opportunity to spend the month of January in Greece while enrolled in Classics 251 (Classical Studies in Greece), an Interim course focusing on ancient Greek art and history. By completing a major in Latin Education and a term of practice teaching, students can become certified to teach Latin in public school. Education 349 is a teaching methods course designed specifically for future Latin instructors. Students may put their Greek or Latin courses to use as the core of an interdisciplinary major in Ancient Studies or Medieval Studies.

COURSES

GREEK COURSES

111, 112 Beginning Greek I, II

In this two-course sequence students learn the basics of ancient Greek. By studying the language's vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, they not only gain appreciation for its intricacies and nuances but also learn more about their own language and about language in general. Completion of both semesters equips students to translate almost any ancient Greek text with the aid of a dictionary. Prerequisite for Greek 112: Greek 111 or equivalent. Offered annually.

231 Intermediate Greek

Third-semester Greek students read selections from Plato's dialogues (Apology, Crito, Phaedo) in uncut, original versions, reviewing basic vocabulary, grammar, and syntax while translating the Greek texts. The class discusses the life and death of Socrates and the significance of the dialogues as works of literature. Prerequisite: Greek 112 or equivalent. GE: FOL-K. Offered annually.

253 New Testament Greek

The New Testament is the most famous and most widely translated Greek text from antiquity. Students delight in reading one or more of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, or selected Pauline letters in the original language. Questions about the transmission of the text and about its theological implications provoke lively discussions. Prerequisite: Greek 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-K. Offered annually.

298 Independent Study

372 Greek Philosophy

It has been said that all philosophy is a mere footnote to Plato and Aristotle. In this Greek course students read extensively in the works of the two renowned philosophers while examining the forces that influenced them and the impact that Greek philosophy exerted on subsequent ages. Prerequisite: Greek 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-K. Offered in alternate years.

373 Greek Historians

Readings from the works of Herodotus, the "Father of History," and Thucydides, the first "scientific" historian, provide the backdrop for studying the development of Greek historiography. Students analyze the historians' distinctive methods and writing styles and compare them with those of modern historians. Prerequisite: Greek 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-K. Offered in alternate years.

374 Greek Drama

Like the genre that it describes, the word "drama" is itself of Greek origin. From the treasure-trove left to us by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and Menander, students translate one or two complete plays and discuss the evolution of the Greek theater, staging, and modern interpretations. Prerequisite: Greek 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-K. Offered in alternate years.

375 Homer and the Greek Epic

The primary texts for this course are Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, the earliest recorded literature of Western civilization. Besides translating lengthy passages from one or both of these remarkable poems, students probe the characteristics of epic poetry and investigate current topics in Homeric scholarship. Prerequisite: Greek 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-K. Offered in alternate years.

398 Independent Research

LATIN COURSES

111, 112 Beginning Latin I, II

In this two-course sequence students learn the basics of classical Latin. By studying the language's vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, they not only gain appreciation for its intricacies and nuances but also learn more about their own language and about language in general. Completion of both semesters equips students to translate almost any classical Latin text with the aid of a dictionary. Prerequisite for Latin 112: Latin 111 or equivalent. Offered annually.

231 Intermediate Latin

Third-semester Latin students have the opportunity to read large portions of two orations (First Catilinarian, Pro Caelio) by Cicero and selections from Catullus' poetry, in uncut, original versions, while reviewing vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. Besides translating the Latin texts, the class discusses late Republican Rome and the stylistic features of the literature. Prerequisite: Latin 112 or equivalent. GE: FOL-L. Offered annually.

235 Medieval Latin

Latin was spoken in one form or another for more than two thousand years. This course focuses on authors and texts dating roughly from 300 to 1500 A.D. and emphasizes the role of Latin as the language of the Church and of the intelligentsia during the Middle Ages. Prerequisite: Latin 231 or equivalent. GE: ALS-L, FOL-L. Offered in alternate years.

252 Vergil and the Latin Epic

Lord Tennyson called Vergil the "wielder of the stateliest measure ever moulded by the lips of man." Students encounter that stately measure when they translate selections from Vergil's three major poems (Eclogues, Georgics, Aeneid). They also engage in spirited discussion of Homer's influence on Vergil and of Vergil's influence on the literature, art, and music of Western civilization. Prerequisite: Latin 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-L. Offered in alternate years.

298 Independent Study

371 Latin Lyric Poetry

Lyric poems - short, occasional pieces composed in various meters, often concerned with love and longing - are the focus of this Latin course. Students read the vivacious verse of Catullus, Horace, Tibullus, and Ovid and learn to recognize the features that make lyric a distinctive genre of Latin poetry. Prerequisite: Latin 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-L. Offered every third year.

372 Roman Historians

The writings of Sallust, Livy, and Tacitus provide breathtaking views of ancient Rome and memorable vignettes from the city's colorful history. Extended passages from the historians' works form the core of readings for a survey of Roman historiography and of historical writing in general. Prerequisite: Latin 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-L. Offered every third year.

373 Lucretius

Lucretius might best be described as a philosophical poet. His De Rerum Natura ("On the Nature of the Universe") presents the theories and teachings of Greek philosophers like Democritus and Epicurus, but with a Roman flavor. Students translate substantial sections of this fascinating poem. Prerequisite: Latin 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-L. Offered every third year.

374 Cicero and Latin Prose

Rome's greatest orator, Cicero, was also its greatest prose stylist and the author most responsible for supplying Latin with philosophical vocabulary. Selections from his philosophical, rhetorical, and oratorical works show the range of his talents and help demonstrate the development of Latin prose style. Prerequisite: Latin 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-L. Offered every third year.

375 Roman Drama

Strange things happened on the ancient Roman stage; this course gives students firsthand proof of that. The comedies of Plautus and Terence and the tragedies of Seneca make entertaining reading. Students in the course also discuss the evolution of the Roman theater, staging, and modern interpretations. Prerequisite: Latin 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-L. Offered every third year.

377 Latin Satire

The Romans claimed that satire was a literary genre of their own creation. Students are able to weigh the merits of that claim as they read selections from the wry and witty poems of prominent Roman satirists such as Persius, Horace, Martial, and Juvenal. Prerequisite: Latin 231 or equivalent. GE: FOL-L. Offered every third year. 398 Independent Research

CLASSICS COURSES IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

126 Ancient Comedy: A Funny Thing Happened

This course introduces students to the wild and wacky world of ancient Greek and Roman comedy. It traces the development of the genre with discussion of how the plays were produced in antiquity and what influence they exerted on the drama of later centuries. Students read works by Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, and Terence and stage selected scenes. GE: ALS-L. Offered periodically in Interim.

128 The Fall of the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity

This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to the roughly 300-year period of Western European history from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the establishment of the 6th century Christian Germanic kingdoms. Using primary sources, archaeological evidence, and remains of art and architecture, students investigate the collapse of Roman authority and the rise of the Christian Church, gaining insight into an age of great transition and change. GE: HWC. Offered periodically in Interim.

130 Singers of Tales

Writing is a relatively recent invention; oral traditions long predate literary ones. Students explore texts composed orally, such as The Wedding Song of Smailagic Meho (Serbo-Croatian) and The Epic of Son-Jara (African), as well as "literary classics" with roots in oral tradition, such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey (ancient Greek) and The Song of Roland (Old French). GE: ALS-L, ORC. Offered periodically in Interim.

241 Greek and Roman Myth

Homer's epics, Hesiod's account of creation and his farmer's almanac, the tragedies of fifth-century Athens, the national epics of Ovid and Vergil: mythical patterns and images from ancient texts still pervade our culture's music, drama, art, and film. Many students "plug in" and appreciate for the first time the richness and relevance of their Greek and Roman inheritance. GE: ALS-L. Offered in alternate years.

243 The Golden Age of Greece

Students journey back to the fifth century B.C., as the Athenians emerge triumphant from the Persian Wars and develop the "Golden Age" of Greece. Studying the history, literature, and art of ancient Athens helps students understand the uniqueness of that city-state and its lasting contributions to Western civilization. GE: HWC, ALS-L. Offered in alternate years.

244 The Golden Age of Rome

What made the last years of the Roman Republic and the early years of the Roman Empire "golden"? Students learn the answer by reading some of the finest Latin literature every written, from epic to satire. They also do research with source materials to gain understanding about the society that produced such talented authors. The course emphasizes the many ways in which ancient Rome has influenced and continues to influence Western culture. GE: HWC, ALS-L. Offered alternate years.

251 Classical Studies in Greece (abroad)

This course introduces students to the history and art of ancient Greece, from the Bronze Age through the archaic, classical, and Hellenistic periods. Students visit every major region of Greece, with extended stays in Athens, Heraklion, and Thessaloniki. When not visiting museums and archaeological sites and learning about ancient Greek civilization, students experience modern Greek culture. GE: HWC, ALS-A. Offered annually in Interim.