Terence and the Making of Roman Literature

3 units

This graduate seminar focuses on the comic plays of Terence (160s BCE), their original context, their afterlife, and the enigma that is their author's life story. Although he wrote comedies about family spats and young love, and complained of disrespect from his contemporaries, Terence occupied a pivotal place in Latin literature's development and in the formation of an archaic literary canon that valued both pure Latin style and edifying content. The author himself, reported to have been a native of Rome's great enemy Carthage, found a place not just in the Roman theatrical scene, but among the leading intellectuals and statesmen of his day. We will read from select plays in Latin, all the rest in English, and other relevant ancient texts. Graduate-appropriate assignments in secondary reading, presentations, and research will be given. PREREQUISITES: GRADUATE STANDING IN CLASSICS, OR IN A RELATED DEPARTMENT WITH PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.