MWF 10 Ð 10:50 AM Peabody 204 (on corner of Cameron and S. Columbia)
Instructor: Jim OÕHara
My office: 319 Murphey Hall
Phone: 962-7662
e-mail: jimohara --at --- unc.edu
my home page: http://www.unc.edu/~oharaj/
(learn this: you can find course page here)
course home page: http://www.unc.edu/courses/2009fall/latn/221/001 (probably
wonÕt use Blackboard)
Office hours: W 11:10-12, 2-3, and
by appt. (polite drop-ins might also OK--IÕm in Murphey a lot, plus IÕll
usually walk to Murphey after Latn 221)
My other course CLAS 55 MWF 1 Ð 1:50 PM Murphey 104
Syllabus Meter handouts:
Basic Rules,
Practical Rules My Vergil links page
Allen & Greenough Latin Grammar online (called ÒA&GÓ in Ganiban Aeneid 2)
A rough, non-searchable pdf of
A&G can be downloaded at another site
Description:
We will read two books of VergilÕs Aeneid in Latin, first Book 2 and then probably Book 8. We start with daily assignments of about 20 lines and move rapidly to longer readings. By the middle of the semester, we will be reading 50 lines per class session, and then soon 60. Our goal will be steadily to get better at reading and understanding Latin poetry: we will pay attention to meter, rhetoric, style, and interpretation.
Since the course provides an introduction to reading Latin poetry, we will be reading the Aeneid not only as Latin but also as poetry: we will regularly conduct discussions of the poem, and we will read the entire work in English fairly soon.
Plan to spend 7-9 hours per week on homework, about 3 hours of work per class hour. If the amount of time you spend varies significantly from that figure, you should consult with me soon: if you spend less time, your performance will suffer.
Helpful hints:
á Read the Latin through at least two and preferably three times before coming to class.
á Do not write out a translation: this is way too time-consuming and hurts rather than helps you as we try to get better at Latin.
á Do not expect the translation to work as an equivalent to the Latin; on those rare occasions when you get stuck and look at a translation, you need to know exactly why the Latin says what it says, and why you couldnÕt get it by yourself.
á Reading through each assignment at least twice will be necessary for full comprehension, and if the course is working for you youÕll enjoy the second time a whole lot. This is very beautiful poetry, and you will find yourself enjoying it, so youÕll want to do it justice.
á Re-reading passages weÕve read earlier is a wonderful thing, and will help you improve rapidly, as Vergil often re-uses the same vocabulary, and youÕll get to know the patterns of his sentences.
á Read aloud as often as your living/studying situation allows; meet other students in the class to read aloud.
á Watch for info about when UNC Latinists of all ages and abilities may meet once a week to read Latin aloud in a stress-free setting for fun and pleasure.
á When someone is called on to translate in class, donÕt just say ÒwhewÓ and look ahead to the next line, but follow along as he/she translates, and make sure you had the translation right, or understand why you did not. Ask questions.
Our Book 2 textbook has extensive notes, and vocabulary in the back. Later in the term, you may need a dictionary.
Course requirements: in-class work; two hour-long in-class exams; a final exam; and regular quizzes. No paper (despite what an earlier description said). In-class work includes attendance and participation, preparation for class, in-class reading of Latin, and an oral presentation: later in the term each of you will report on a short article about the poem. If the class is too large I may require you to meet with me or a TA to read Vergil aloud now and then.
Books:
R. Ganiban, Vergil Aeneid: Book 2, Focus Publishing/R. Pullins
Virgil, The Aeneid; Trans. Frederick Ahl, Oxford (get this and not another translation!)
Third Book for second half of course TBA (might be
photocopies or pdfs)
You might need a dictionary for the second half of course
(TBA)