Who would write satire while the world was falling apart? For one, a young Horace, who was many years away from presiding over the Roman poetic scene as author of the famed Odes. From 36 to 30 BCE, Horace was watching the republic disintegrate and his own prospects hang in the balance; in this climate, he chose to enter the poetic scene with the hexameter Sermones ("Chats"). With striking energy, learning, and talent, Horace playfully explores human character flaws, the ethics of free speech and satire, and poetic and social competition in Rome; he also throws in personal revelations, fables, gastronomical lectures, sexual gossip, and fart jokes. Together, we will read most of the eighteen Sermones in Latin. We will discuss them from our own perspectives while also learning from scholars who examine their poetic, ethical, and political commentary. Assessments will include short translation-and-commentary tests, stints leading discussion of passages or articles, and at least one paper project utilizing research skills. Senior Classics majors may choose to use this course as a capstone experience by completing additional work (consult the instructor at the beginning of the semester). PREREQS: LATIN 3171 and LATIN 3181 (OR EQUIVALENT) AND SOPHOMORE STANDING OR ABOVE.
Course Attributes: EN H; BU Hum; AS HUM; AS LCD; AS LS; FA HUM; AR HUM
