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Module

CAC3039 : Beginnings in Latin Literature (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Anke Walter
  • Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to techniques of aetiological storytelling in Latin literature and beyond (the Romans’ Greek predecessors; modern culture). The students will be introduced to a wide variety of Latin texts of different genres. The students will learn about the background of these texts and about methods of textual analysis. They will have ample opportunity to practise these methods for themselves. The students will also practise their writing skills in different contexts (close reading; abstract; essay).

Outline Of Syllabus

Telling stories of origin is a universal human need. At all times and in very different cultures humans have been accounting for the origin of the cosmos, cities, customs and rituals, words, to name but a few examples. The Romans are no exception. Many of their stories of origin, or aetia, revolve around the centre of their world: the city of Rome. In this module, we will examine a wide variety of the many stories of origin that can be found in Latin literature. We will analyse their narrative strategies, the manipulations of time and perspective, of truth and fiction, and the way accounts of the remote past are anchored in and comment on the present.
We will focus on some of the Classical Latin texts such as the Aeneid or Livy’s ab urbe condita, but also follow the development of aetiological storytelling into early Christian literature. Students will be introduced to, and have ample opportunity to practice for themselves, methods of analysing Latin literature. Critically examining the functioning and particular power of stories of origin, so skilfully employed in Latin texts, will also help students to be critical readers of the rhetoric of modern aetia employed, for instance, in political contexts.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials111:0011:00Part of student contact hours (11 lecture recordings and materials, available online)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture141:0014:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion891:0089:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading361:0036:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching61:006:00in-person seminars for student-led discussion
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery21:002:00drop-in for individual discussion of essay topics and essays
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study421:0042:00N/A
Total200:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
CAC2039Beginnings in Latin Literature
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures will introduce the relevant texts, their background and some of the secondary literature and demonstrate the kind of literary analysis of these texts, which the students will be expected to carry out in their close reading and essay. Seminar sessions will help us work toward that goal by providing a context for the discussion of selected passages of texts. Drop-in sessions provide a space for the individual discussion of essay topic, essays and other questions relating to the lecture material.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1M25Close reading - 1000 words.
Essay1M10Essay abstract - 500 words.
Essay1A652500 words.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The students will demonstrate their ability to think critically about and develop an interpretation of a text by writing a short (1000 words) close reading of a set passage. They will sketch out the main point of their essay in an abstract (500 words) and demonstrate their skill of critical analysis in their essay (2500 words). Essay questions will be set differently for Stage 2 and Stage 3 students, to match the level of their ability.

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

Reading Lists

Timetable