CL 365: Seminar in Classical Studies
Singer, Song, and Society
Scribner Library 417 / 417
TuTh 2:10 - 3:30 p.m.
www.skidmore.edu/classics/courses/2000fall/cl365
NOTE: This printable copy of the course syllabus is accurate as of September 5th, 2000.
It is your responsibility to stay informed of course events and policies through the online
version, which will be updated constantly.
Overview.
In this course we shall explore various genres of Greek and Latin poetry that are not, at least
not formally, dramatic or epic: lyric, choral, satire, epigram, elegy, and others. These genres are
represented by a variety of authors, including Sappho, Pindar, Juvenal, and Martial, whose works
directly address the concerns of the societies in which they live. In particular, we shall focus on
the role of the poet within the community, whether to praise or to blame, to love (or lust) or to
despise. All readings are in English.
Objectives.
The specific goals for this course are as follows: (1) to understand the content, form, scope
and structure of Greek and Roman social poetry; (2) to approach this poetry as both narrative
and social commentary, and to differentiate it from other genres; and to assess its value — in a
sense, its timelessness — to modern audiences. Furthermore, students will draw upon universal
skills of critical reading and thinking, and will communicate these skills both in class and in
written exercises.
Instructor:
Professor Dan Curley
Office: 210 Ladd Hall
Hours: MWF 11:10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Phone: x. 5463
Email: dcurley@skidmore.edu
Textbooks:
 Greek Lyric: An Anthology in Translation. Translated by Andrew Miller. Hackett. 1996.
 The Poems of Catullus. Translated by Charles Martin. Johns Hopkins. 1990.
 The Complete Odes and Satires of Horace. Translated by Sidney Alexander. Princeton.
1999.
 Propertius: The Poems. Translated by Guy Lee. Oxford. 1996.
 The Mortal City: 100 Epigrams of Martial. Translated by William Matthews. Ohio
Review. 1995.
 Juvenal: The Satires. Translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford. 1991.
CL 365: Singer, Song, and Society
2
Course requirements:
Class participation (20%). Class participation involves more than just attendance. You must
also keep up with the readings and assignments, and participate actively during our sessions.
Furthermore, I expect that you will come to class on time and that you will maintain an
environment that promotes the exchange of ideas.
Article report (10%). Each student will present a 15-minute report on a scholarly article or
book chapter. You will select from the bibliography or from another source, and articulate to the
class (1) the author's aims, (2) his or her main lines of argument, (3) his or her conclusions, and
(4) whether or not you thought the piece was successful, and why. Your presentation should be
focused and polished, and should convey familiarity with the subject matter.
Assessment papers (40%) In lieu of exams, I will assess your progress in the course through
five brief papers. In these papers you will respond to topics relevant to the authors whose works
we have most recently explored.
Research project (30%). The research project has several components, including a topic
statement, an annotated bibliography (four versions), an outline, two formal presentations of
your topic, and the research paper itself (approx. 20 pages in length).
Consult the online Timetable to see when the assignments and papers have been scheduled.
Strategies for success.
While everyone confronts poetry in his or her own way, it will prove worthwhile to approach
the requirements of this seminar in an organized and systematic manner. Below are some
strategies to consider for success in CL 365.
Keep up with the workload. As simplistic as it sounds, this is perhaps the most useful
strategy, as well as the most difficult to follow. Our pace will at times be rather rigorous,
depending largely upon how many texts by a given author survive. This means that you should
work with the poetry every day. Don't save it all for the night before. You should likewise strive
to keep up with the various assignments and components of the research project.
Review regularly. Again, this seems obvious, but regular review of past readings,
particularly those portions of texts highlighted during our discussions, will prove extremely
helpful. The same advice applies to your notes from class.
Remember the genres. Not all of our authors are lyric poets. Each poet's genre differs from
the other in terms of sound and sense, as well as in social function. Bear these differences in
mind as you proceed
I hope that you will find CL 365 to be a challenging yet rewarding experience.
F O R T V N A
O M N I B V S
B O N A