Christian Poetry Before and After the Renaissance

Christian Poetry Before and After the Renaissance

Course Description: For all its devotion to classical ideals and pagan authors, the Renaissance was still a largely Christian phenomenon. Poets during and after the Renaissance penned many lovely poems on all manner of sacred subjects. Accordingly, for each week of this course we will read two poems on the same or similar subjects, one from the Middle Ages and one from after the advent of Christian humanism, and discuss what comparisons can be drawn between the two. The focus will be on Christian liturgical and devotional poems, though we may broaden to other subjects as well if time permits. This synoptic approach is a fascinating way to look at Latin poetry in a new light and gain a deeper appreciation of both the continuity and evolution of Latin literature.

DETAILS

Level: Intermediate-Advanced/Advanced. Familiarity with Latin grammar, morphology, and vocabulary is strongly preferred, though interested students at other levels are welcome.

Textbook: Instructor will provide materials.

Sections capped at: 5 students. If the course is sold-out, please fill out this waiting-list form.

When
Thursdays, 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Cost
$250

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Instructor

Joshua Gregor

Joshua Gregor is head of the Latin department at Sacred Heart Academy in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has taught Latin courses ranging from beginning grammar up through Cicero, Horace, and Vergil, as well as medieval and Renaissance Latin. With Paideia he has previously taught a number of courses on Christian and Medieval Latin, especially poetry. Joshua holds a B.A. in philosophy from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, with a thesis on William Wordsworth’s Romantic theory of poetry. Afterwards he received an M.A. in linguistics from Indiana University, focusing on Latin and Romance languages. Joshua additionally spent several years in seminary, where he also studied humanities, theology, and Gregorian Chant.