Horace: Odes and Epodes

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Horace (65 - 8 BC), the most versatile Roman poet, is perhaps most famous for his brilliant lyric poetry contained in his Odes. This course will focus upon the Odes (as well as some of the Epodes) in an effort to understand Horace's construction of his lyric voice. In order to do so, we will examine, among other things, technical features of Horace’s diction and meter, as well as broader themes of politics, mythology and Roman culture. Students will gain a much deeper awareness of literary production and creativity in the ancient world, and will be able to discuss Latin and antiquity in general from a markedly different perspective.