Spring 2009

LAT 323 • Latin Verse Satire

Course Description

Satura quidem tota nostra est: "Satire, at least, is totally ours." Such was Quintilian's pithy verdict on the most elusive and quintessentially Roman of literary genres, Satire. In this class, we will examine selected verse satires by Horace, Persius, and Juvenal, among others. Attention will be paid to each poet's adaptation of traditional conventions (including meter), his engagement with poets previous and contemporary, and his work's reflection of contemporary Roman culture.

Texts

Miller, P.A., ed. 2005. Latin Verse Satire: An Anthology and Critical Reader. New York: Routledge.

back