LNW 5665: Roman Poets (Vergil's Aeneid) Dr. Tim Johnson; Dauer Hall 143

Sessions: Office Hours:

Course Objectives:

To read Vergil's Aeneid and through the reading to begin to explore the basic interpretative questions that the text presents. When the student completes the course, it should be possible for s/he to frame an intelligent and thoughtful answer to the question, 'What is Vergilian?'.

Course Approach:

Criticism is not polemic. One does not lean over the text and beat meaning out of it with one critical approach and then another. The purpose of criticism is not to reduce the text to its lowest value and so strip it of any significant meaning. Instead, as Martin Buber argues, the text should be embraced as a living element with transforming powers. Sense comes when the world of the text contacts our own and together produce an idea. Critical approaches do offer different vantage points for understanding and appreciating the multiple senses of the text, but they are tools and not art. Further there is no clear division between textual and literary criticism: nothing replaces a close reading of the text, and all methods/approaches support a rich dialogue between the text and the reader.

I do not believe that meter alone defines genre, but it is a central characteristic. Certainly the ancients did not have clearly demarcated thematic limitations on genre as we often suppose. Roman literature more often than not by modern criteria mixed freely generic categories. Therefore, it is shallow to state the traditional that the Aeneid is an epic in the Homeric tradition -- in many ways it is not. This course intends to explore the distinctives of the Aeneid. But remember, to learn to think outside the boxes, you must know what the boxes are.

Activities: We will meet two times a week, (1) a two hour reading session and (2) a one hour workshop.

Primary Reading: The reading session will be spent reading the Latin text and solving various textual questions. Not all of the material assigned will be covered word for word in class, and therefore the students are encouraged to come prepared with questions. The following texts will help you prepare for the reading sessions. The OCT and Williams' edition are required. The Williams' edition is out of print, although you may be able to snag a copy on Amazon.com. I will put a copy on reserve.

•R. B. Mynors (ed.). P. Vergilii Maronis Opera (Oxford-OCT 1969) 871.V9, 1969 Required

•R. D. Williams (ed.). The Aeneid of Virgil, Books 1-6 and 7-12. 2 vols. (New York 1973). Required and On Reserve

•Conington-Nettleship-Haverfield (edd.). P. Vergilii Maronis Opera (London 1858-1898) 871V9, 1898

•F. A. Hirtzel (ed.). P. Vergilii Maronis Opera (Oxford-OCT 1900) 871.V9, 1900

•T. E. Page (ed.). The Aeneid of Vergil (London 1894; rprt. 1923-1924) 871.V9a.p 1923

•Servii Grammatici qui feruntur in Vergilii carmina commentarii. Thilo and Hagen, edd. (Leipzig 1878-1912) 871S4; Harvard's Servius at 871.V9Yse

*** You will note that not all of the Aeneid is assigned reading, but the Aeneid is one work that you certainly will be expected to have read in its entirety. Therefore, I will give a grade percentage bonus to anyone who will read the entire Aeneid this semester.

Secondary Reading: Augustan poetry has been the mainstay of English Classical scholarship, a focus that is admittedly too narrow. This focus, however, has produced a sea of secondary works on the Aeneid. The secondary reading That is required is only the minimum and is designed to provide the student with an introduction to Vergil's Roman epic. I have kept the reading assignments to a minimum, since we will all be reading extensively in preparation for our workshops.

•W. A. Camps. An Introduction to Virgil's Aeneid (Oxford 1969) 6, and 7: "Principles of structure: continuity and symmetry," and "Poetic expression: language and sensibility" -- pp. 11-20; 51-74.

•S. J. Harrison (ed.). Oxford readings in Vergil's Aeneid (Oxford 1990) Ch's 2, 17, and 21: "The Purpose of the Aeneid" (Williams); "Vergil and the Politics of War" (Lyne); "Vergil's Aeneid and Homer" (Knauer) -- pp. 21-36; 316-338; 390-412.

•J.K. Newman. The Classical Epic Tradition (Wisconsin 1986) Ch. 4, "Virgil," pp. 104-187.

•Anton Powell (ed.). Roman Poetry and Propaganda in the Age of Augustus (London 1992) Ch's 2 and 6: "'Augustan' and Anti-Augustan': Reflections on Terms of Reference"; "The Aeneid and the Embarrassments of Augustus" --26-58; 141-164.

•R. D. Williams. The Aeneid (London 1987) Ch's 1-4: "Virgil's Life and Works", "The Political and Literary Background of Virgil's Times", and "The Composition of the Aeneid" -- pp. 1-30.

Workshop Reports: At least once (and hopefully twice) during the semester you will lead or co-lead the discussion of the question posed for the workshop. The main point here is to be thorough in your research and preparation rather than to be original. Your presentation should be about 35 minutes long and should consist of the following: (1) a statement of the question as you understand it; (2) an overview and introduction to the major bibliography on the question; (3) a presentation on the question (I strongly suggest that you make this a read paper) (4) entertaining discussion questions on your presentation. Required: On the reading session before your workshop you should assign the class one important article to read on your topic. It is your responsibility to make sure the reading is accessible to the class. You should provide your colleagues with a handout including bibliography and outline of your presentation. You must provide me with a complete copy of your work (paper read, note, bibliography, etc.)

Paper (10-15 pp.): Your topic will more than likely be defined by your participation in the workshops. All topics must be approved before the midterm. One question on your midterm will be to state the thesis for your paper. I am not impressed by length nearly as much as precision of the argument.

Grading:

30% Class Preparation and Reading

40% Exams (Midterm and Final)

15% Workshop Reports

15% Paper

*Remember daily work (attendance and preparation) is still the most important requirement. If you attend class, but are unprepared to translate the passage or to even make a reasonable attempt, then you have effectively failed the assignment.

Reading and Report Schedule

Week 1 (January 6-9): Set Class Schedule and Syllabus

Week 2 (January 12-16):

Session 1: Reading in Aeneid 1. 1-179; 223-296

Session 2: Reading in Aeneid 1.418-519; 613-722

Week 3 (January 20-23):

Reading Session: Aeneid 2.1-267; 624-804

Workshop Question: Who was Vergil? We should of course begin by detailing thoroughly the basic bibliographic

information (life situation, works, friends, etc.), but a poet is not always confined by time/space limitations. The questions must begin to address Vergil's presentation of the role of the poet in society. What did Vergil think of the poet?

Week 4 (January 26-30):

Reading Session: Aeneid 3.209-267; 624-804

Workshop Question: Vergilian Style and Metrics. Discuss, explain, and illustrate completely Vergil's use of the

hexameter. Also what are Vergil's stylistic habits? On the basis of this much investigation,

when we say such and such is 'Vergilian', what do we mean?

Week 5 (February 2-6):

Reading Session: Aeneid 4.1-350

Reading Session Aeneid 4.351-705

Week 6 (February 9-13):

Reading Session: Aeneid 5.1-71; 545-871

Workshop Question: What about women or to put it more broadly what about passion in Vergil? Provide a sketch of the approaches to the problem of Aeneas and his relationship with Dido. What do critics mean when they describe Dido as a lyric episode. How is she different then from the epic Penelope?

Week 7 (February 16-20):

Reading Session: Aeneid 6440-636; 719-901

Workshop Question: Religion and Ritual in the Aeneid.

Week 8 (February 23-27): Midterm

Week 9 (March 1-5)

Reading Session: Aeneid 7.37-571

Workshop Question: How does Vergil square or not with the Homeric epic tradition? Be sure to consider what might be other sources within the epic tradition and not for Vergil's' Aeneid.

Spring Break

Week 10 (March 15-16):

Reading Session: Aeneid 8.1-101; 306-540; 608-731

Workshop Question: Underlying the entire debate whether the Aeneid is pro- or anti-Augustine is Vergil's patronage. How obligated was the poet to his patron? Discuss the various approaches to this question and consider whether pro- and anti-Augustine are helpful terms. Be sure to consider the 'Harvard School' (or the pessimistic reading of the Aeneid).

Week 11 (March 22-26):

Reading Session: Aeneid 9.1-449

Workshop Question: The influence of the Aeneid in ancient and modern literature. Be sure to review the epic tradition after Vergil. Also consider whether or not Aeneas is always a positive figure in various national literatures.

Week 12 (March 29-April 2):

Reading Session: Aeneid 10.1-117; 439-517; 873-908

Workshop Question: What is ekphrasis and when is it present in the Aeneid? Is there any literary progression to the Aeneid's ekphrastic moments?

Week 13 (April 5-9):

Reading Session: Aeneid 11.597-915

Workshop Question: Is the Aeneid complete? How and why is the ending such a literary puzzle?

Week 14 (April 12-16):

Reading Session: Aeneid 12.383-613; 672-952

CAMWS

Week 15 (April 19-21): Papers Due

** I will keep on reserve in the Seminar Room the following. They are checked out in my name. You may borrow them overnight, if you return them the next day. Any abuse of this will result in books on reserve in Library West.

•A.J. Boyle (ed.). Roman Epic (London 1993).

•Francis Cairns. Virgil's Augustan Epic (Cambridge 1989). PA6825 .C34 1989   

•W. A. Camps. An Introduction to Virgil's Aeneid (Oxford 1969). 871 V9a.Yca   

•D. R. Dudley (ed.). Virgil (New York 1969). 871 V9.Ydud

•Joseph Farrell. Vergil's Georgic's and the Traditions of the Ancient Epic (Oxford 1991). PA6804.G4 F37 1991   

•P. R. Hardie. Vergil's Aeneid: Cosmos and Imperium (Oxford 1986). PA6825 .H37 1986   

•S. J. Harrison (ed.). Oxford readings in Vergil's Aeneid (Oxford 1990). PA6825 .O94 1990   

•D. Nelis, Vergil's Aeneid and the Argonautica of Apollonius of Rhodes (Leeds 2001) PA6825 .N454 2001

•J.K. Newman, The Classical Epic Tradition (Wisconsin 1986)

•Anton Powell (ed.). Roman Poetry and Propaganda in the Age of Augustus (London 1992)

•M. C. J. Putnam. Virgil's Aeneid: Interpretation and Influence (Chapel Hill 1995). PA6825 .P84 1995   

-------------------. Virgil's Epic Designs (New Haven 1998).

•R. D. Williams (ed.). The Aeneid of Virgil, Books 1-6 and 7-12. 2 vols. (New York 1973).

-------------------. The Aeneid (London 1987). PA6825 .W5357 1987  

Vergil Project -- http://vergil.classics.upenn.edu/home; Vergilian Society --http://vergil.classics.upenn.edu/vergilius

Biblio.--http://classics.rutgers.edu/vergil.html; www.ancientsites.com/~Torrey_Philemon/calliope/aeneid.html