Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

CLA3001 needs to have been taken in the same or a previous academic year.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module aims:
1. To further develop students' linguistic skills, as applied to reading and translating original literary texts in Latin;
2. To further develop students' skills in interpreting and analysing Latin literary texts.
3. To familiarise students with a range of resources (traditional and digital) employed in the advanced study of Latin literary texts.
4. To give students the opportunity to contextualise those texts within the relevant socio-political context.

Outline Of Syllabus

This is a specialised module where students work on improving their language and interpretative skills by looking in depth at Latin texts and accompanying secondary literature. Students taking this module will work on set literary text(s) in the original Latin, further refining skills of interpretation and analysis, as well as developing a deeper awareness of broader themes and contexts relating to the texts.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1. To read, understand, translate and critically comment on Latin texts (seen and unseen);
2. To consolidate and put into practice sound knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary;
3. To show a clear understanding of the chosen set text in terms of style, function, content;
4. To understand literary works and their historical/cultural context.

Intended Skill Outcomes

1. To translate Latin texts fluently and accurately into clear and appropriate English;
2. To analyse and critically reflect upon literary texts in their original language;
3. To use a range of resources required for scholarly study of ancient Latin texts;
4. To recognise patterns (whether linguistic, stylistic, thematic or conceptual);
5. To apply learned knowledge and skills (selectively, where appropriate) in the completion of the module’s different assessment components.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Small-group sessions are largely student-led, and provide the opportunity to collaboratively read, review and discuss the prescribed text(s), while further refining existing skills in:
- identifying and understanding a range of Latin linguistic and syntactical features;
- reading and translating Latin;
- literary analysis.

Structured guided learning activities provide students with the opportunity to:
- acquire knowledge and understanding of broader themes, ideas and contexts (whether literary, historical, philosophical, socio-cultural);
- prepare for synchronous sessions;
- further refine discipline-specific technical skills.

Guided independent study is intended as time for:
- skills practice;
- directed reading and research;
- preparing and completing any formative and summative assessments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Summative assessment is designed to assesses students' knowledge and interpretative understanding of the texts studied, with particular reference to the application of their linguistic knowledge, and their skills in presenting their views and analyses of key issues regarding the set text(s).
The exam is designed to test the students' skills, developed over the course of the semester, in translating and interpreting an unseen text.
Essay 1 assesses skills in interpretation, based on the text in the original.
Formative assessments are designed to tests skills relevant to the exam in particular.

General Notes

N/A