Spring 2022 Class Schedule: Department of Classics

Spring 2022 Class Schedule

Course	Title	Instructor	Lecture	Discussion
Classics 212	Rome: Culture and Empire	Terpstra	TR 12:30–1:50	R 4–4:50, F 10–10:50, F 10–10:50, F 11–11:50, F 11–11:50, F 12–12:50, F 12–12:50, F 1–1:50, F 1–1:50, F 2–2:50
Classics 212 Rome: Culture and Empire The course is a general history survey, starting with Rome’s humble beginnings and ending with the collapse of the Roman Empire. It will trace the story of how a small city-state in central Italy, on the periphery of the older civilizations of Greece and the East Mediterranean, established military and political dominance over Italy; how it built a Mediterranean empire and administered it for centuries; how a long period of crisis led to its decline and partition into an eastern and western half; and finally how the western half collapsed. In addition to this chronological narrative, the course will treat several key themes and concepts in Roman culture. The Roman military will receive attention, as will gender relations and public spectacles. Roman religion and the role of slavery will also be discussed. PDF
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Classics 310	Archaeology of the Ancient Mediterranean: The Amazons: Warrior Women of Greek Myth and History	Darden	MW 12:30–1:50
Classics 310 Archaeology of the Ancient Mediterranean: The Amazons: Warrior Women of Greek Myth and History The Amazons were a fantastical race of warrior women who lived on the periphery of the Greek world. They represented a world turned upside down, antithetical to Greek masculine values. The queens of the Amazons were powerful enemies to the best of the Greek heroes, coming into conflict with Achilles, Heracles, and Theseus. In this course we will discuss the place of the Amazons in ancient literature, in various artistic traditions, and in relation to cultures on the periphery of the Greek world where the idea of female warriors did not seem so impossible. Specific topics for this course include, Amazons at Troy, the “romance” of Achilles and Penthesilea, the Amazonomachy on Greek temples, cross-dressing in the myth of Heracles and Omphale, sons of Amazons, “historical” Amazons, and the modern afterlife of the Amazons. PDF
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Classics 340/CLS 301	Greek and Roman Drama: Athenian Tragedy, Then and Now	Hopman	TR 2–3:20
Classics 340/CLS 301 Greek and Roman Drama: Athenian Tragedy, Then and Now The scripts and fragments from plays produced in fifth-century BCE Athens in honor of Dionysos, god of wine and theater, are among the most enduring and powerful legacies of ancient Greek culture. Since their rediscovery in the early modern period, directors, translators, and adaptors have repeatedly turned to the poetry of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides to reflect on political, ethical, social, and theological issues of their time. More recently, the plays have proved fertile ground for directors eager to imagine alternative ways of thinking about race, gender, and class. In this course, we will read a selection of Athenian tragedies, with special emphasis on their form, ancient performance context, and themes, as well as select examples of their contemporary reception for diverse audiences. All readings will be in translation, and students will be encouraged to work in groups to perform and develop creative responses to individual scenes. PDF
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Classics 380/HUM 325	Ancient Rome in Chicago	Tataranni	M 3–4:50	(Lab) W 3–4:20
Classics 380/HUM 325 Ancient Rome in Chicago Ancient Rome is visible in Chicago—walk the city and learn to “read” the streets, buildings, and monuments that showcase Chicago’s engagement with the classical past! You’ll gain digital mapping and video editing skills as you collaborate on a virtual walking tour mapping Chicago’s ongoing dialogue with antiquity. With a combination of experiential learning and rigorous research methodologies, you’ll explore architecture, history, visual arts, and urban topography in this quintessential modern American city. PDF
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Greek 115-2	Accelerated Elementary Ancient and Biblical Greek	Platte	MTWR 3:30–4:20
Greek 115-2 Accelerated Elementary Ancient and Biblical Greek This course is the second in an accelerated two-quarter series designed to teach students to read ancient Greek texts, from the biblical New Testament to Homeric poetry and Platonic philosophy. These two quarters will teach all the fundamentals of grammar and vocabulary and lead students directly into a Fall quarter course dedicated to reading the New Testament in the original language. Thereafter students will progress to a range of genres from the classical and post-classical periods, including ancient Greek history, poetry, philosophy, drama, and more. PDF
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Greek 201-3	Introduction to Greek Literature: The Iliad	Darden	MWF 11–11:50
Greek 201-3 Introduction to Greek Literature: The Iliad This course, the final of the second-year Greek series, is designed to build fluency in reading Greek as students transition from the study of Greek grammar to Greek literature. This course will look closely at selections of the Iliad, but out goal will be to develop enough proficiency that students will be capable of reading Homeric epic on their own. The aim of this course is for students to reach the level of understanding of Greek and familiarize themselves with resources so that they can, in the future, read Greek literature independently. PDF
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Latin 101-3	Elementary Latin	Tataranni	MTWR 10–10:50
Latin 101-3 Elementary Latin Latin 101-3 is the third quarter of the year-long Elementary Latin sequence designed to introduce students to the basic principles of classical Latin grammar and syntax. In addition to the mastering of these basic tools, the course will focus on vocabulary acquisition and the development of translation skills and reading competency necessary to continue successfully in the second year. During the first three weeks of the quarter, class meetings will be devoted to completing chapters 34-40 of Wheelock’s Latin. For the rest of the term, primary Latin readings from Cicero’s First Catilinarian Oration will be assigned on a daily basis. Students will be expected to develop their translation and literary analysis skills in prepared passages from the original Latin text. PDF
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Latin 201-3-22	Introduction to Latin Literature: Catullus	Byros	MWF 10–10:50
Latin 201-3-22 Introduction to Latin Literature: Catullus The third quarter of second-year Latin combines literary analysis with mastery of grammar and syntax at the intermediate level. This is mainly a workshop course, with discussion focusing on questions to and from members of the course. Though translation will be a component in evaluation, it will be a relatively minor criterion of success. The main topics of discussion will be how meaning and emphasis are communicated throughout the poetry of Catullus. Though Latin 201-3 concentrates on language skills, it also develops skills of analysis that are foundational for the future study of literature in any language. A grade of C- or better in this course satisfies the WCAS language requirement. PDF
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Latin 201-3-23	Introduction to Latin Literature: Catullus	Byros	MWF 11–11:50
Latin 201-3-23 Introduction to Latin Literature: Catullus The third quarter of second-year Latin combines literary analysis with mastery of grammar and syntax at the intermediate level. This is mainly a workshop course, with discussion focusing on questions to and from members of the course. Though translation will be a component in evaluation, it will be a relatively minor criterion of success. The main topics of discussion will be how meaning and emphasis are communicated throughout the poetry of Catullus. Though Latin 201-3 concentrates on language skills, it also develops skills of analysis that are foundational for the future study of literature in any language. A grade of C- or better in this course satisfies the WCAS language requirement. PDF
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Latin 310	Readings in Latin Literature: The Young Achilles	Weintritt	MW 2–3:20
Latin 310 Readings in Latin Literature: The Young Achilles Who was Achilles before his wrath took hold in Troy? At the end of the first century CE, the epic poet Statius set out to tell us, along with the whole story of Achilles' life. We see Achilles harassing centaurs in Thessaly, managing a rocky relationship with his parents, and passing as a maiden to avoid joining the war. Cut short by the poet's death, the poem leaves us to wonder how this Achilles could ever have become the Achilles of the Iliad. A mere book and a quarter and long neglected in scholarship, the Achilleid offers an opportunity for students to develop real mastery. We'll read the entire poem and much of its bibliography over the course of the quarter and work in class to develop papers that contribute to our understanding of the poem. To help us sort out this dancing "Maiden Achilles" and his manipulative mother-goddess Thetis, ancient gender expert Professor Judy Hallet (UMaryland) will lead a class during her residence at NU this spring. PDF
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Latin 400	Medieval Latin	Newman	TR 11–12:20
Latin 400 Medieval Latin This class aims to teach proficiency in reading medieval Latin texts in prose and verse, from a variety of periods and genres. Tuesdays will be devoted to a thoroughgoing review and consolidation of grammar, using Richard Upsher Smith’s Ecclesiastical, Medieval, and Neo-Latin Sentences. On Thursdays we will read and translate selected texts from an anthology—chosen, when possible, to align with the participants’ research interests. Students should aim to acquire two complementary skills, sight-reading for comprehension and translation for fluency and accuracy. Ideally, students should have had at least a year of prior Latin experience, or the equivalent in intensive summer Latin. PDF
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