Spring 2008

LAT 383 • Augustine's Confessions

Course Description

This course takes as its central focus one of the great masterpieces of western literatureAugustine's autobiographical Confessions. During the course of the semester, we will read Confessions 1-10 in Latin; and 11-13 in English. [Students registered under the CC number will read all books in translation]. Particular attention will be paid to the literary historical context of Augustines narrative. Topics for seminar meetings will include: the genre of the Confessions and its relation to other classical and late antique literary genres (e.g. epic, biography, hagiography); Christianity and Classical culture; religious politics in 4th century Africa; Neoplatonism and Manichaeism; Monicas narrative function; the importance of specific tropes (tears, books/reading); Augustines theory of memory; Augustines conceptions of divinity, grace, and sin; the nature of his conversion; the Confessions and contemporary literary theory; and Augustines modern biographers. By the end of the semester, students should have a deep knowledge of Augustines text and the central interpretive issues it raises as well as a firm grasp on the history of scholarship on the Confessions. Most weeks, we will read one book of the Confessions and 2-3 relevant secondary articles/book chapters. Seminar meetings will be devoted to detailed analysis of the text and assigned readings as well as short reports by the seminar participants. Grading: Short translation quizzes (Latin 383 students only) Seminar Report and participation Final Paper (c. 25 pp.)

Texts

Required Texts: Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo, rev. ed. James O'Donnell, Augustine: A New Biography Serge Lancel, St. Augustine James ODonnell (ed. and comm.), Augustines Confessions, 3 vols. (out of print but available online; I will also provide a pdf version) Gillian Clark, Augustines Confessions, Books 1-IV (Cambridge University Press, 1995) Coursepack of secondary readings

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