L600: Roman Epic

This semester the course comprises in-depth reading of the De Rerum
Natura of Lucretius.  There will be at least one writing assignment
on the style and presentation of the author and considerable study
of the text and of the author’s Latin and its place in the history
of the language.  Secondary literature will be examined, but the
focus will be on the text itself as well as the principles of
Epicureanism therein presented.  Exams will be largely translation.
The textbook is the Oxford Classical Text by Cyril Bailey.