Lucretius

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This advanced course introduces students to Lucretius' epic poem, De rerum natura, whose mission is to free the reader from fear and convention so as to see the world and one's place in it with unclouded eyes. This vision is a poetic re-understanding of Epicurean philosophy. Chief topics include the atomic nature of matter, the mortality of the soul, the vanity of religion, and the importance of achieving intellectual tranquillity. We shall examine Lucretius' contribution to Roman intellectual and literary history by reading select passages in his sources (Epicurus, Ennius, Homer, Hesiod) and in the two poets he most influenced, Virgil and Ovid. His importance for the development of scientific method and his influence on English poetry will be considered briefly. Recommended for students who have completed CLLA 20003 or equivalent.