Course Description: This is an advanced reading course of selected passages from Lucretius’ “De rerum natura,” a didactic poem that attempts to expound the materialist/atomist philosophy of the Epicureans in dactylic hexameter. Our readings, with some exceptions, will turn away from the poem’s complicated, technical material and instead focus on its more beautiful, poignant, and stirring passages: its opening invocation of Venus and encomium of Epicurus [I.1-101], a discursus on the pleasures of philosophy, famously likened to observing a shipwreck from ashore [II.1-60], a description of the nasty, brutish, and short life of primeval man [V.925-988], a famous narrative of the Plague of Athens [VI.1138-1286], and much more!
DETAILS
Level: Students should come with a firm grasp of Latin grammar and have experience reading continuous texts. No prior experience with Lucretius necessary.
Textbook: Instructor will provide materials; Leonard & Smith's edition of Lucretius is recommended for students wanting a complete commentary of the poem
Sections capped at: 5 students. If the course is sold-out, please fill out this waiting-list form.
When
Tuesdays, 7:30p.m. U.S. Eastern Time
Cost
$250
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