INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL CULTURE I

CLASSICS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. THOUGHT, SPEECH AND LITERARY GENRES IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
The class runs along two lines, which intersect and complement each other: the exploration of genres, authors and texts belonging to the high poetic tradition aims at illustrating some of the main topics related to Greek and Roman culture, while the illustration and discussion about texts and authors is aimed at stimulating critical reflections about the human being and the contemporary world, mostly in relation to the cultural heritage.

The course aims to provide students with basic notions and skills relating to Greek and Roman cultures, in order to allow an independent approach to the subject for personal or professional purposes. Furthermore, the course aims at showing the impact of ancient Greek and Roman cultures over time and how classical culture can play a concrete and important role for the cultural, civil and social development and for the preservation, enhancement and fruition of the cultural heritage.
The expected learning outcomes are the following: a) acquiring knowledge of the basic notions concerning the development of classical Greek and Roman culture; b) acquiring deeper knowledge concerning the topics dealt with in greater detail during the course (see “contents”); c) the ability to reflect and discuss about texts belonging to the cultural contexts dealt with during the course; d) the ability to expose facts and concepts pertaining to classical Greek and Roman cultures in a safe and clear manner with the correct technical terminology; e) the ability to grasp similarities, differences and traits of (dis-/)continuity between different cultures; f) awareness of the concrete repercussions of ancient classical culture on the individual and the community.

No knowledge of Latin or ancient Greek language is required.

POETRY, TRAGEDY AND SENSE OF TRAGEDY IN THE ANCIENT WORLD BETWEEN GREECE AND ROME

• Wonder is the foundation of knowledge (Aristotle and Gramsci)
• What is the meaning of “classic”?

1. Greek culture

• Archaic epic poetry: main features
• Lyric poetry: main features; Sappho (monodic lyric); Pindar (choral lyric)
• The Sophists
• Tragedy: origins and agones (main features); Aeschylus; Sophocles; Euripides
• Ancient reflections on poetry and theatre: Plato (on poetry) and Aristotle (on tragedy);
• Hellenistic epic poetry: Apollonius Rhodius, "Argonautica"
• Hebraic literature of Hellenistic age: Ezekiel the Tragedian: "Exagōgē".

2. Roman culture

• Epic poetry: main features; Livius Andronicus; Naevius; Ennius.
• Tragedy in the Old Latin period: main features; Livius Andronicus; Naevius; Ennius
• Didactic poetry (late Roman Republic): Lucretius’ "De rerum natura"
• Epic poetry in the Augustan age: Vergil’s "Aeneid"
• Tragedy in the Imperial age: the tragedies of Seneca the Younger
• Between Christianity and Paganism: Prudentius and Claudian

bibliography will follow

The exam consists of a written test (questions and answers) aimed at verifying the acquisition of the learning outcomes illustrated in the section “expected learning outcomes” (see above).

- Frontal teaching
- Readings and discussion about the scheduled texts (see “contents”)

Italian

General information

The class “Introduction to classical culture I – surnames M-Z” can be attended:
1) as an independent course (6 CFU)
or
2) as the first part of the full course of “Introduction to classical culture” (12 CFU). Please, find the second part of the course on the web page of Professor Alberto Camerotto (“Introduction to classical culture II – surnames M-Z”). Pay attention, please! Students are to take the two exams totalling 12 CFU within the span of one Academic year.

Information for students enrolled in the curriculum of Classical Studies

Students enrolled in the curriculum of Classical Studies are required to attend not this course, but rather the classes of Greek Literature (with knowledge of the Greek language).

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