Cicero's De Oratore

1 Course Unit

In this seminar we study Cicero's three-book dialogue and its place in literary and cultural history, exploring its Latin form and its subject-matter, characters, contexts, influences, and interpretations. How can we best assess Cicero's project and its problems and possibilities? The work offers numerous points of connection with major topics in Greek and Roman studies and serves as an instructive case-study in the history of classical reception and scholarship. Students will also be encouraged to introduce other ancient cultural topics that offer interesting comparisons or contrasts in light of Cicero and his dialogue. 1 Course Unit