Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The core of the module will consist of a reading of the 'Aeneid' in translation. The poem will be sited both within its political context (Rome as the dominant world power, the end of the Roman civil wars, the triumph of Augustus, his ambiguous political settlement and his attempt to harness the poets to the new dispensation) and its literary tradition (the epics of Homer, Hesiod, Empedocles, Apollonius, Ennius and Lucretius; philosophy; tragedy; elegy; Virgil's own poetic career). Literary, cultural, religious, political and historical issues will be discussed.

This module aims to:
(1) Provide an understanding of the political and literary context of the Aeneid;
(2) Provide an understanding of the key interpretative problems raised by the poem;
(3) Provide an understanding of Virgil's poetic techniques;
(4) Develop students' skills of textual interpretation, analysis and problem-solving as applied to the Aeneid
(5) Develop students' skills of interpersonal and written communication

Outline Of Syllabus

The following topics will be discussed:
historical context
literary context and influences
Virgil and the Caesars: the 'Eclogues'
Virgil and the Caesars: the 'Georgics'
Thereafter the treatment is sequential, book by book, with special, extended treatments of Books 1, 4, 6, 8 and 12.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of the module students should have acquired:

(1) Close familiarity with the text of the Aeneid
(2) An understanding of the political theory and literary context and of the key interpretative problems raised by the poem

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students should have acquired:

(1) Textual skills of analysis, appreciation and problem-solving
(2) Skills in interpersonal and written communication; initiative; adaptability

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures are deliberately of brief duration, allowing time for class discussion and debate.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam assesses the learning outcomes through a combination of detailed comment on passages of text and of essay work on more general issues; the exam format is well suited to assessment of students' skills in both these areas.

The essay component will assess students ability to analyse critically a passage from the Aeneid outside of exam conditions.

All Erasmus students at Newcastle University are expected to do the same assessment as students registered for a degree.
Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. This will take the form of an alternative assessment, as outlined in the formats below:

Modules assessed by Coursework and Exam:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be one essay in addition to the other coursework assessment (the length of the essay should be adjusted in order to comply with the assessment tariff); to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Exam only:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be two 2,000 word written exercises; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Coursework only:
All semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be expected to complete the standard assessment for the module; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.
Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending the whole academic year or semester 2 are required to complete the standard assessment as set out in the MOF under all circumstances.

General Notes

Original Handbook text: