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Classical Latin Language and Cultures: Elementary - LFA00245L

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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 allows students to reinforce their knowledge of the basic principles of Latin grammar, as well as building on that knowledge through an introduction to some of Latin’s complex sentence constructions. By the end of the course, students will be able to translate a range of primary source material (e.g. short texts in both prose and poetry). 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.

Related modules

Classical Latin Language and Cultures: Beginner or equivalent

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 elementary 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 a range of both basic and more specialised Latin vocabulary, as well as a heightened appreciation of the basics of Latin morphology and the historical relationship between the Latin and English languages.

  • The ability to understand and deploy both the basic principles of Latin grammar and syntax, as well as some complex sentence constructions in order to engage with and interpret a range of Latin source material.

  • The ability to compose sentences from English into Latin that incorporate a range of both basic and complex syntactical constructions, 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

This module aims to build translation confidence through exposure to a range of Latin texts, which will include:

· Modern adaptations of Classical Latin texts that allow students to practice specific grammatical constructions

· Short extracts of Classical Latin prose from authors such as Cicero, Petronius and Seneca.

· Short extracts of Classical Latin poetry from authors such as Catullus, Martial, Propertius and Ovid.

Grammar topics at Elementary Level:

· A review of the grammar covered at Beginners level (nouns, adjectives and active verbs etc.)

· Group 4 & 5 nouns

· The formation and use of the future perfect tense

· Pronouns (demonstrative, personal and relative)

· Passive and deponent verbs (all tenses)

· The formation and use of participles (present, past and future)

· The formation and use of the ablative absolute

· Indirect statements

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: Life, Love and Laughter in the City of Rome

The course will provide students with an interdisciplinary introduction to the social dynamics of the city of Rome during the height of the Roman Empire. Through integrating archaeological, historical, and literary evidence, this module will explore not only the practicalities of daily life in Ancient Rome, but also the concerns and hopes of individual Romans from this period. From the perceived dangers of watching gladiatorial combat, to the trials and tribulations of falling in love, the letters and poems of those who once inhabited the city of Rome provide a fascinating window onto the reality of living in one of Classical Antiquity’s greatest cities.

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 Roman Society:

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)

R.C. Knapp, Invisible Romans: Prostitutes, Outlaws, Slaves, Gladiators, Ordinary Men and Women…the Romans that History Forgot (London: Profile, 2011)

R. Laurence, Roman Passions: A History of Pleasure in Imperial Rome, (London: Bloomsbury, 2010)

T.S. Thorsen (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Latin Love Elegy (Cambridge: CUP, 2013)


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.