University of Texas, Department of Classics
June 13-July 1, 1994; M-F 8:30-11:30, Waggener 112
Timothy Moore, Waggener 211, 471-5742
Office Hours, M-F 1-3 and by appointment (or drop by)

Objectives:
Our aim is to understand the poems of Catullus within their cultural context. With this in mind, we will read all the poems of Catullus' corpus and discuss their significance not only as independent entities, but as products of late-Republican Rome; and we will read selections from the works of Catullus' contemporaries and from secondary works on the history and society of Catullus' day. We will also read the poems aloud and evaluate methods of teaching Catullus' poetry.

Text:
Daniel H. Garrison, The Student's Catullus (Oklahoma, 1989).

Grading:
For those registered for undergraduate credit (LAT 365) who choose not to write a paper:

• Class participation (includes oral presentations): 50%
• Final exam: 50%

For those registered for graduate credit (LAT 385) and for those registered for undergraduate credit (LAT 365) who choose to write a paper:

• Class participation (includes oral presentations): 25%
• Final exam: 25%
• Paper: 25%

June
13 Introduction

14 The Literary Context

• Poems 1, 14, 14b, 16, 22, 36, 38, 65, 66, 95
• Arthur Leslie Wheeler, Catullus and the Traditions of Ancient Poetry (Berkeley, 1934), III: "The Background in Roman Poetry"
• Kenneth Quinn, The Catullan Revolution (Melbourne, 1959), IV: "The Characteristics of the New Poetry"
• 385 students read also David O. Ross, Style and Tradition in Catullus (Harvard, 1969), pp. 137-169: "The Traditions."

15 The Political Context

• Poems 10, 28, 29 46, 47, 49, 52, 54, 57, 93
• H.H. Scullard, From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome 133BC-AD68 (London, 1982), VI: "Pompey and Caesar," VII: "The Domination of Caesar," and IX.6: "The Provinces"
• If you are not familiar with Caesar's Gallic War, spend some time with it.
• 385 students read also E.A. Fredericksmeyer, "Catullus 49, Cicero, and Caesar," Classical Philology 68 (1973) 268-78.

16 Religion

• Poems 34, 63
• T.P. Wiseman, Catullus and His World: A Reappraisal (Cambridge, 1985), IV.I: "Delos" and VI.3: "Attis at the Megalesia"
• Scullard, From the Gracchi to Nero, X.8: "Philosophy and Religion"
• 385 students read also J.H.W.G. Liebeschuetz, Continuity and Change in Roman Religion (Oxford, 1979) Chapter I.: "The Late Republic"

17 Love and Sex

• Poems 15, 21, 24, 32, 45, 48, 56, 81, 99, 106
• Wiseman, Catullus and His World I.3: "Sexual mores"
• Amy Richlin, The Garden of Priapus: Sexuality and Aggression in Roman Humor Appendix 2: "The Circumstances of Male Homosexuality in Roman Society of the Late Republic and Early Empire"
• R. MacMullen, "Roman Attitudes to Greek Love," Historia 31 (1982) 484-502.

20 Marriage

• Poems 17, 61, 62, 67, 96
• 385 students read also Gordon Williams, "Some Aspects of Roman Marriage Ceremonies and Ideals," Journal of Roman Studies 48 (1958) 16-29.

21 Lesbia I

• Poems 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 30, 37, 51, 58
• Cicero, Pro Caelio (in English; 385 students should read as much as possible of this in Latin)

22 Lesbia II

• Poem 68
• Wiseman, Catullus and His World V: "Lesbia illa"
• 385 students read also C.J. Tuplin, "Catullus 68," Classical Quarterly 31 (1981) 113-39.

23 Lesbia III

• Poems 70, 72, 75, 76, 77, 79, 83, 85, 86, 87, 92, 104, 107, 109
• T.P. Wiseman, Catullan Questions (Leicester, 1969) VI.: "Lesbia-Who?"
• Ross, Style and Tradition in Catullus, p. 80-95: "Lesbia and the Vocabulary of Political Alliance"
• 385 students read also Kenneth Quinn, Catullus: An Interpretation (New York, 1973) 3: "The Affair."

24 Home, Family, Friends and Socializing

• Poems 4, 6, 9, 12, 13, 27, 31, 35, 50, 53, 55, 58b, 60, 73, 82, 100, 101, 102
• Cicero, De Amicitia (in English; 385 students should read as much as possible of this in Latin)

27 Invective I

• Poems 23, 25, 26, 33, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 59
• Wiseman, Catullus and His World I.2: "Cruelty"
• Richlin, The Garden of Priapus Chapter 1: "Roman Concepts of Obscenity"

28 Invective II:

• Poems 69, 71, 74, 78, 78b, 80, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 94, 97, 98, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116
• Reports

29 The Big One I:

• Poem 64, lines 1-201
• M.C.J. Putnam, "The Art of Catullus 64," Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 65 (1961) 165-205 in Approaches to Catullus, ed. Kenneth Quinn (Cambridge, 1972)
• Reports.

30 The Big One II

• Poem 64, lines 202-408
• Reports

July 1: Final exam; Catullus in English poetry

Additional assignments

1. Each student will present to the class (i.e., teach) one poem.
2. Each student will also choose one poem and present to the class a 15-minute report on the history of its interpretation, and her or his own conclusions about its controversies. Students registered for LAT 385 and LAT 365 students who wish to write a paper will also present their findings on the poem in a 10-15 page paper. (Students who wish may choose another topic for their reports and papers.)
3. Each student will memorize one poem of Catullus of 8 or more lines and recite the poem to the instructor as part of her or his final exam.

last modified September 1, 2010 by timmoore@mail.utexas.edu