FF:RLS204 Reading Seminar (Cicero) - Course Information
RLS204 Reading Seminar (Cicero)
Faculty of ArtsSpring 2025
- Extent and Intensity
- 0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: k (colloquium). Other types of completion: z (credit).
- Teacher(s)
- doc. Mgr. Katarina Petrovićová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
- Guaranteed by
- doc. Mgr. Katarina Petrovićová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts - Prerequisites (in Czech)
- ( RLS103 Latin Grammar III || LJ103 Latin Grammar III ) && ! LJ204 Reading Seminar (Cicero)
- Course Enrolment Limitations
- The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
- fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
- Latin language and literature (programme FF, B-RLS) (2)
- Greek and Latin Studies (programme FF, B-RLS)
- Course objectives
- The aim of the course is to instruct students in reading and interpretating selected parts of Cicero's rhetorical and philosophical texts (eventually of one of his theoretical works on rhetoric).
- Learning outcomes
- At the end of this course, student should be able:
- to analyse formal devices Cicero employed in order to emphasize the meaning of his texts;
- to provide adequate Latin-Czech translation; to recognize the structural aspects of a speech (gradation, shifts in meaning induced by word order, rhetorical questions, ellipses and repetitions) and of a philosophical dialogue (ways of defining terms, argumentation);
- to summarize different views of Cicero as the man of letters and on the literary merit of his works;
- to become aware of Cicero's Greek models (Stoics: above all Panaitios and Poseidonios; Plato and Aristotle, critical attitude towards Epicureanism; Greek rhetoric);
- to understand the socio-cultural background of Cicero's works. - Syllabus
- 1. Introduction to the problematics of translation of Cicero's works; editions of Cicero's writings.
- 2. Cicero as the most prominent rhetorician and philosopher of his times.
- 3.-4. M. TVLLI CICERONIS IN L. CATILINAM PRIMA ORATIO (Types of subordinate clauses and their interrelation. Parts of speech.)
- 5.-6. M. TVLLI CICERONIS PRO A. LICINIO ARCHIA POETA ORATIO (Cicero's use of various styles (genera dicendi). Application of the rule: movere, docere, delectare. Onomatopoeia, speech rhythm, tropes and figures.)
- 7.-8. M. TVLLI CICERONIS TUSCULANAE DISPUTATIONES (1,1-4; 1,5-6; 1,42-49): Structure of a period, ways of its analysis. Subordinate clauses - their tenses and moods.
- 9.-10. M. TVLLI CICERONIS TUSCULANAE DISPUTATIONES (1,1; 1,7: axioma = pronuntiatum; 1,8-9: animus / anima; 1,10: harmonia, entelechia = continuata et perenna motio; 1,23-25; 1,41): Modes of argumentation and defining terms.
- 11.-12. M. TVLLI CICERONIS CATO MAIOR DE SENECTUTE (Interpretation of the text with respect to its cultural background. Roman values, i. e. respect for the old age, respect for the ancestors, sense of duty and moralizing. Comparison of ancient moral standards and modern lifestyle.)
- 13. Summarization of the themes discussed - written assignment (analysis of a longer complex sentence – period).
- Literature
- required literature
- CICERO, Marcus Tullius. M.T. Ciceronis Oratio pro Archia poeta. Edited by M. D. Marie. Nouv. éd. Paris: Librairie classique d'Eugene Belin, 1926, 28 s. info
- CICERO, Marcus Tullius. Ciceros Reden gegen L. Sergius Catilina, für P. Cornelius Sulla und für den Dichter Archias (Přív.) : Ciceros Reden für Sex. Roscius aus Ameria und über das Imperium des Cn. Pompeius (ZPřív.) : In Catilinam (Unif.) : Pro Archia poeta (Unif.) : Pro Sulla. Edited by Karl Halm. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1859. info
- recommended literature
- CICERO, Marcus Tullius. Pro Archia. Edited by Albertina Riboldi. 1a ed. Milano: Carlo Signorelli, 1995, 92 s. ISBN 8843401661. info
- CICERO, Marcus Tullius. Tuskulské hovory : Cato starší o stáří : Laelius o přátelství. Translated by Václav Bahník. 1. souborné vyd. Praha: Svoboda, 1976, 433 s. URL info
- not specified
- In Catilinam (Unif.) : Ciceros Reden gegen L. Sergius Catilina, für P. Cornelius Sulla und für den Dichter Archias (Přív.). info
- Teaching methods
- The course is taught as both seminar and lecture. Attendance and participation in the course is required (min. 75%), home reading and preliminary analysis recommended. Students are also obliged to present a short report on the topic connected with Cicero's works. In case of absence in the lesson the student has to send his translation of the given passage by e-mail.
- Assessment methods
- At the end of the course, student's following competence is proved through written analysis of three typical Cicero's sentences:
1. syntactical analysis (type of the sentences, clauses, verbal tempora, consecutio temporum);
2. finding and describing the figures and tropes used in the text;
3. describing the periodical structure of sentences (principle of symmetry and variation);
4. ability of adequate Czech translation.
Credits are atributed to student, who has reached 75% correct answers, and has not left out any of required tasks completely. - Language of instruction
- Czech
- Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
- Information on completion of the course: Zápočet si volí studenti vedlejšího studijního plánu (minor), kolokvium studenti jednooborového nebo hlavního studijního plánu (completus, maior).
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
- Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/RLS204