CLS 495 ROMAN WOMEN: PUELLA, MATRONA, MERETRIX Description: This course will focus on translation and discussion of Latin texts which portray Roman women in marriage, the family, and sexual relationships, and evidence male attitudes toward them, in a variety of literary forms (comedy, satire, love poetry, epic, myth, letters, history, inscriptions), from the 3rd Century BCE to the 3nd Century CE. Spring 2007 Syllabus

Anticipated Learning Outcomes: at the conclusion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. Mastery of foundational Latin vocabulary, grammar, and syntax
2. Ability to read, understand, and translate unadapted Latin passages from a variety of authors and genres, with appropriate assistance
3. Understanding of how Latin differs from the forms, grammar, and syntax of English, leading to an increased understanding of how both languages function
4. Acquaintance with Roman daily life and culture during the Republic and the Empire
5. Awareness of social expectations of Roman women, the qualities valued in them, and attitudes toward them at different class and economic levels, in different genres, at different time periods.
6. Facility in accessing and using on-line classical resources for course reading and research.

Outcome Assessment: Students are required to--

• be present regularly for each weekly two-hour class meeting, with additional meetings for tutoring or consultation where necessary (Outcomes 1-5)
• participate fully in class activities, such as discussion of issues and reading, translating, and analysis of assigned and sight Latin passages (all Outcomes)
• complete thoroughly and submit on time all assignments, including daily translations, word searches, and on-line postings and discussions (all Outcomes)
• submit in writing and make a presentation of two Semester Projects which will involve independent Latin translation, research on Roman women in on-line and print resources, and reflective writing. (Outcomes 1-3, 5, 6)

Materials of Instruction:

Print Course Texts:
   S. Ciraolo, ed. Cicero: Pro Caelio. Wauconda, Ill.: Bolchazy-Carducci, 1999
   A. Raia, C. Luschnig, J. Sebesta, The Worlds of Roman Women. Newburyport, MA.: Focus Publishing, 2005.
   College-level Latin dictionary and grammar

On-Line Course Texts and Images:
       Catullus, by Allison Barker
       Companion to The Worlds of Roman Women: Textmap, by A. Raia and Judith Sebesta
       De Feminis Romanis, C.A.E. Luschnig, et al. at Diotima
       Feminae Romanae: The Women of Ancient Rome, by Suzanne Cross
       Forum Romanum: database of authors
       House of Paullus Aemilius Lepidus and Cornelia
       Intermediate Latin Readings, A. Raia, et al.
       Latin Library
       Pliny, Letters: selected by H. Walker
       Perseus: Latin and English
       VRoma: Image Archive
       Women’s Life in Greece and Rome by M. Lefkowitz and M. Fant, at Diotima

Supplementary Primary Source Readings: See Companion Bibliography

Ancillary Materials:
        See Companion Resources
        Commentaries, reading guides, articles
       Angel, the course management system for on-line syllabus, conferencing and communication, document posting and reading, sharing resources.

Methods of Instruction: Class time will be used primarily for --

• reading Latin aloud, translation of prepared and sight passages, analysis of language and content
• exchanging information about Roman women that emerges from essays, texts and images -- their public and private functions, their celebrated virtues and censured failings, male attitudes toward them and their stereotyped roles.
• special sessions will be arranged for a guest lecture by Dr. Barbara McManus, Professor Emerita of Classics, a theater/museum fieldtrip, video screenings of archaeological/artistic evidence on Roman women’s physical lives, student project presentations.

Grading: Students will be graded on the quality of their completion of the requirements listed above as follows:
       60 % --attendance, participation in virtual and actual discussion, prepared and sight translation, writing and reading assignments
       15 % --Independent Project 1
       25 % --Independent Project 2

Requirements and Policies: attendance is required, as is appropriate class behavior; students are expected to meet deadlines: un-excused late assignments will not be accepted; students who exceed the maximum number of un-excused absences (1 in a 2-hour course) will find their grade negatively affected in this category; make-ups will be arranged for students who have medical or other serious excuses; students are expected to report an illness through proper channels; those found cheating or plagiarizing will earn an F for the course. At the beginning of the course, students with documented special needs are expected to inform the instructor of accommodations or services needed for successful academic participation.

Semester Projects:
1. Funerary Inscriptions:
        Funerary inscriptions dating from a variety of time periods provide an opportunity to “see” Roman women of all classes through non-privileged writing and through sculptural and painted images. Due in oral and written presentation on Tuesday, March 20.

2. Latin Text Commentary: Your final project will make a contribution to the available annotated Latin texts on women and will be your summative independent learning experience. It will be edited by me and published among the texts on Companion to The Worlds of Roman Women, where you will be credited as a contributor.
       Select a complete text or a portion of a text from the list provided; research the text in print and electronic sources; develop a glossary and notes on grammar and content appropriate for an intermediate-level Latin student; identify relevant images for the text.
       Once you have entered your completed work as a document on Angel we will all read your text-commentary, translate it, and post our translations and critique of your commentary.
The final projects completed by students in the Fall 2002 Roman Women course are linked below (and on line at De Feminis Romanis); you may wish to consult them as models:
        Kimberly Nickerson, Commentary to Pliny's EpistulaeVII.24
        Jennifer Pinheiro, Commentary to Cicero's Pro CluentioV.12-VI.17
        Cara West, Commentary to Seneca's De Consolatione ad Marciam 3.3-4.3 .

Schedule and Topical Outline: PUELLA, MATRONA, MERETRIX, AMICA

       The course topics derive from the theme of the course: Roman Women. Selected texts, organized into four categories, span the timeperiod from the 3rd Century BCE through the 2nd Century CE. The readings illustrate both the positive and negative images of women within the category; they evidence variations of the female role within the category; they treat historical women, legendary women, and literary constructs. The texts are almost solely narrated from the male perspective, a point of view that secondary readings will help to challenge.
       The course begins with the least complicated female role of the course title, puella, and proceeds to the most complex, amica; as a fictive persona, it is not named in the course title. The course moves from reading texts as evidence of real women’s lives to questioning the evidence by examining stereotypes, counter-stereotypes, conflicting testimony, socio-economic levels, gender bias and genre conventions.

The course meets weekly on Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. in Chidwick 310. Between meetings I would like us to be in contact by e-mail and/or during office hours/by appointment. Assignments will be given in class and posted on Angel after each class meeting.

Tuesday, January 23:
   Introduction to the course content, pedagogy, syllabus, and the four units

Unit I: January 30-February 13: Readings about and discussion of the Puella
   Course Texts: A. Raia, C. Luschnig, J. Sebesta, The Worlds of Roman Women, Companion to The Worlds of Roman Women
       Additional Readings: Eve D'Ambra, Roman Women: "Gender & Status"; A. Tanenbaum, Women and the Family; S. Dixon, "Roman Women: Following the Clues"; J. Hallett, “Women in the Ancient Roman World” in B. Vivante, Women’s Roles in Ancient Civilizations: A Reference Guide; J. Gardner, "Legendary Ladies" in Roman Myths

Unit 2: February 20-April 3: Readings about and discussion of the Matrona
    Friday, February 23: Project 1 assignment due
    Course Texts: Cicero, Pro Caelio, selections on Clodia, A. Raia, C. Luschnig, J. Sebesta, The Worlds of Roman Women, Companion to The Worlds of Roman Women
        Additional Readings: Jane Gardner, Th. Wiedemann, eds., "The Laudatio Turiae," in The Roman Household, pp. 48- 52; Suzanne Dixon, "The allure of 'La Dolce Vita' in Ancient Rome," chapter 9, in Reading Roman Women

Unit 3: April 10- 24: Readings about and discussion of the Meretrix
   Course Texts: A. Raia, C. Luschnig, J. Sebesta, The Worlds of Roman Women, Companion to The Worlds of Roman Women
       Additional Reading: A. Raia, Women's Roles in Plautine Comedy

Unit 4: May 1-8: Readings about and discussion of the Amica
    May 1: First Draft of Commentary Project due
   Course Texts: A. Raia, C. Luschnig, J. Sebesta, The Worlds of Roman Women, Companion to The Worlds of Roman Women
        Additional Reading: Giusto Traina, "Lycoris the Mime," in Augusto Fraschetti, ed., Roman Women, tr. Linda Lappin.

May 15: Presentation and Submission of Final Draft of Commentary Project