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Classical Latin Language and Cultures: Beginner - LFA00240L

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: F
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module introduces students to the basic principles of Latin grammar, so that they are able to translate some simple primary source material by the end of the course (e.g. inscriptions and short texts). Students will also be introduced to elements of Roman culture in order to develop an understanding of the culture in which such literature was produced.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24
B Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

This module will steadily build the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to examine and interpret a range of Classical Latin documents over the course of a semester, and develop a comprehensive knowledge of Latin translation skills at beginner level.

Students will engage, individually and in groups, in comprehension activities and tasks emphasising three core research skills:

  1. reception activities (reading comprehension);

  2. production activities (prose composition);

  3. analytical activities (cultural context & literary style).

The mediums of instruction are English and Latin.

Module learning outcomes

  • The ability to recognise and employ core Latin vocabulary, as well as an appreciation of the basics of Latin morphology and the historical relationship between the Latin and English languages.

  • The ability to understand and deploy the basic principles of Latin grammar and syntax, in order to engage with and interpret a range of Latin source material.

  • The ability to compose short sentences in Latin on a variety of topics, in order to support and develop grammatical learning.

  • An understanding of Roman civilisation and literature, which enables the student to critically evaluate a range of source material in relation to the politics and culture of the society in which it was created.

Module content

Translation Passages

For the first few weeks of the module, translation passages will comprise some short, basic sentences (many of which will be taken from Classical authors). Students will then progress onto short paragraphs of Latin, which will include:

· Prose adaptations of Greek and Roman Mythology

· Brief, adapted passages of poetry from Classical authors such as Virgil and Ovid.

· Genuine Classical texts including some of the epigrams of Martial, plus ancient inscriptions.

Grammar topics at Beginners Level:

· The Latin case system

· Nouns (groups 1-3)

· Adjectives (groups 1-3, plus comparative and superlative adjectives)

· Prepositions

· Indicative Active Verb Tenses: Present, Future, Imperfect, Perfect and Pluperfect

· An introduction to some irregular Latin verbs (e.g. eo, esse, & possum)

Seminars will include a range of different exercises including both translation (Latin to English) and prose composition (English to Latin) to help explain and build grammatical knowledge, with plenty of opportunities for revision as the semester progresses.

Latin Culture: An Introduction to Augustan Rome

The course will provide students with an interdisciplinary introduction to the first principate: the reign of Augustus (27 BC to 14 AD). Following the collapse of the Roman Republic after decades of civil war, Augustus ushered in a new age of not only Roman politics, but also a golden age of Latin Culture. Through focusing on Augustus’ remodelling of the city of Rome, this course will employ archaeology, history, history of art and literature to explore how one of Rome’s most dynamic politicians reshaped many different facets of Roman culture to cement his political dominance.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 60
Essay/coursework 40

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 60
Essay/coursework 40

Module feedback

Weekly feedback on translations. Feedback on exams and essays as per University regulations.

Indicative reading

Course Textbook:

This may change from year to year, so please double check with your tutor before purchasing any books.

You will also need to have access to a Latin dictionary. Should you wish to purchase a paper dictionary, the following works are recommended for this course:

Collins Latin Dictionary and Grammar 2nd ed. (Glasgow: Collins, 2016)

C.T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary (Oxford: OUP, 1963)

D.P. Simpson, Cassell’s Standard Latin Dictionary: Latin/English, English/Latin (London: John Wiley & Sons, 1959; rev. ed. 1977)

If you do decide to purchase a copy of Cassell’s, second-hand copies are available via online retailers; however, please make sure that you buy the full-length version (around 890 pages) rather than the abbreviated version, which, quite frankly, is a waste of money.

Please note that there is no need to buy a dictionary, as you can access a number of academic Latin dictionaries online for free. One particularly useful volume is:

· Lewis and Short, A Latin Dictionary (Oxford: OUP, 1879; reissued 1963)

This work is now available via: http://logeion.uchicago.edu

Preliminary Reading on Augustus & Augustan Rome:

P. Erdkamp, The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Rome (Cambridge: CUP, 2013)

C. Holleran, & A. Claridge, A Companion to the City of Rome (Somerset: John Wiley & Sons, 2018)

S. Rebeggiani et al., The Cultural History of Augustan Rome (Cambridge: CUP, 2019)

A. Wallace-Hadrill, Augustan Rome (London: Bristol Classical Press, 1993)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.