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Classics

Overview

What do Thomas Jefferson, Emily Dickinson, Sigmund Freud, Willa Cather, Igor Stravinsky, Dorothy Sayers, C.S. Lewis, and Monty Python's John Cleese have in common? All of them learned Greek and Latin and drew inspiration from the classical world.

Studying the civilization of the ancient Greeks and Romans hones the tools necessary for a successful career: it sharpens students' reading, writing, speaking, and reasoning skills and makes them masters of their own language. More importantly, it hones the tools necessary for a good life: students with a background in classical literature and art are better able to appreciate the work of later writers and artists; students of ancient history acquire a long-range perspective useful for evaluating our own time; students of ancient philosophy have the opportunity to debate with great thinkers from the past and wrestle with age-old questions that still intrigue us.

St. Olaf students may satisfy General Education requirements with Classics courses such as Greek and Roman Myth. They may fulfill their foreign language requirement with three semesters of Greek or Latin -- or take four semesters of Greek in preparation for seminary. Recent Classics graduates have chosen professions in education, law, medicine, theology, journalism, and business.

Prerequisites

Greek 231 (or its equivalent) is a prerequisite for all Greek courses numbered above 231; Latin 231 (or its equivalent) is a prerequisite for all Latin courses numbered above 231. Classics courses, which are those dealing with ancient culture or with ancient literature read in English translation, do not demand knowledge of Greek or Latin and are open to all students without prerequisite.

General Education Credit

Classics Department courses that fulfill General Education requirements are listed in the Class and Lab Schedules.

Comprehensive Credit

Successful completion of Greek 231 or Latin 231 or a course numbered higher taught in Greek or Latin, or demonstrated proficiency, satisfies the foreign language requirement. In addition, any Greek or Latin course numbered above 231 (with the exception of Greek 251 and Latin 251) fulfills the Area A literature requirement. Greek 253 may be used instead to satisfy the Level II or III religion requirement. All Classics courses fulfill the Area A literature requirement except for Classics 251, which fulfills the Area A history requirement.

Requirements for The Majors

Requirements for a 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 231 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 a 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 231 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 a 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 a Latin Education Major

Latin 111, 112, 231, four courses in Latin above the 231 level, one course in Roman history (or its equivalent), and Education 349. Students who begin Latin at the 231 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).

Requirements for a Latin Education Minor

Latin 111, 112, 231, two courses in Latin above the 231 level, and Education 349 Students who begin Latin at the 231 level or higher must complete a minimum of four courses in Latin.

Recommendations for Graduate Study

Students who anticipate enrolling in graduate school in Classics should complete a major in Classics or majors in both Greek and Latin.

Pre-seminary students should complete at least four semesters of Greek (through Greek 253).

Special Programs

Every January the Department of Classics offers a course taught in Greece, with extended stays in Athens, Heraklion, and Thessaloniki. Called Classical Studies in Greece, it is one of St. Olaf's most popular off-campus Interims.

St. Olaf students of the Classics often put their Greek or Latin courses to use as the core of interdisciplinary majors in Ancient Studies or Medieval Studies (see Interdisciplinary Studies section or Index). Others complete a Latin Education major (see above) and gain certification to teach Latin at the secondary level.

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 come to understand 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. Greek 111 or its equivalent is a prerequisite to Greek 112.
231 Intermediate Greek
Third-semester Greek students have the opportunity to read selections from Plato's dialogues (Apology, Crito, Phaedo) in uncut, original versions. Along the way they review the basic vocabulary, grammar, and syntax that they learned in Greek 111 and 112. In addition to 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.

251 Greek Composition
Students sharpen their knowledge of Greek syntax and morphology by composing continuous prose passages in ancient Greek. The course is especially helpful for students who plan to become Greek teachers. Taught in Greek.

253 New Testament Greek
The New Testament is the most famous and most widely translated Greek text that has come down to us from antiquity. Students have the delight of 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. Taught in Greek.

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. Taught in Greek.

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. Taught in Greek.

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. Taught in Greek.

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. Taught in Greek.

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 come to understand 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. Latin 111 or its equivalent is a prerequisite to Latin 112
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. Along the way, they review the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax that they learned in Latin 111 and 112. Besides translating the Latin texts, the class discusses late Republican Rome and the stylistic features of the literature. Prerequisite: Latin 112.

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. Taught in Latin.

251 Latin Composition
Students sharpen their knowledge of Latin syntax and morphology by composing continuous prose passages in Latin. The course is especially helpful for students who plan to become Latin teachers. Taught in Latin.

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. Taught in Latin.

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. Taught in Latin.

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. Taught in Latin.

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. Taught in Latin.

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. Taught in Latin.

376 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. Taught in Latin.

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. Taught in Latin.

398 Independent Research

Classics Courses in English Translation

241 Greek and Roman Myth
Greek and Roman myth has provided for the Western world its canon of mythical patterns and material images: Homer's grand epics, Hesiod's intriguing account of creation and his farmer's almanac, the gripping tragedies of 5th-century Athens, the national epics of the Roman poets Ovid and Vergil. The ancient mythical patterns and images of these texts still pervade our culture today: in music, drama, art, and film. This is where many students "plug in" and appreciate for the first time the richness and relevance of their Greek and Roman inheritance.

243 The Golden Age of Greece

In this course students journey back to the 5th century B.C., the "Golden Age" of Greece. They watch as the Athenians emerge triumphant from the Persian Wars and develop a powerful empire under the leadership of Pericles, an extraordinary statesman and general. During the final years of the Peloponnesian War, they see the Golden Age come to an inglorious end. As they study the history of Athens, they also look closely at the literature, art, and architecture of this unique city-state and its lasting contributions to Western civilization.

Interim

The following Interim courses were offered in January 1996:

Classics 126 Ancient Comedy: A Funny Thing Happened
Classics 251 Classical Studies in Greece (off-campus)

Faculty

James M. May (Chair)
Professor of Classics, 1977-
B.S., Kent State; Ph.D., North Carolina
Greek and Roman rhetoric, classical languages and literature

Anne H. Groton
1981-
A.B., Wellesley; M.A., Ph.D., Michigan
Greek and Roman drama, classical languages and literature

Steve Reece
Assistant Professor, 1994-
B.A., M.A., Hawaii; Ph.D., UCLA
Greek and Roman epic, classical languages and literature