Learning outcomes

Course aims:
The course proposes an approach to the principles of textual criticism and to the transmission of classical texts through the reading of a Latin comedy, with special regard to the tradition of Plautine studies.

Prerequisites: Advanced knowledge of the Latin language, knowledge of Latin literature and philological method.

Expected learning outcomes: at the end of the course students will be able to
-understand the history of Plautus’ text and the main approaches in the tradition of Plautine studies;
-develop autonomous ability to translate and analyze a comedy of Plautus, with regard to its main textual and dramaturgic issues;
-improve the following communication skills: to expand the specialized lexicon of philological and historico-literary language; to reflect on the different communication codes (linguistic, dramaturgic, cultural) in Plautus’ text;
-develop autonomous ability to reflect on the practiced methodologies.

Program

Program
Reading of Plautus’ Stichus, with special regard to the study of
-the specificities of ancient theatre texts (e.g. the conditions of production and fruition), of its transmission and reception in antiquity (e.g. Gellius III.3);
-selected issues in the history of transmission and in the studies of Plautus’ text, as well as in the critical approaches to Plautus’ dramaturgy.

Bibliography:
-T. Maccius Plautus Stichus. Einleitung, Text, Kommentar von H. Petersmann, Heidelberg 1973.
-Tito Maccio Plauto, Stico, prefazione di C. Questa, introduzione di E. Rossi, traduzione di M.Scandola, Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, Milano 2005.
-C.Questa, R.Raffaelli, Dalla rappresentazione alla lettura, in G.Cavallo, P.Fedeli, A.Giardina (a cura di), Lo spazio letterario di Roma antica, vol. III, Roma 1990, pp. 139-215.
-R.Raffaelli, A. Tontini (a cura di), Lecturae Plautinae Sarsinates XVIII Stichus, Urbino 2015.
-Further bibliographic references will be proposed during the course.


Teaching methods:
Lectures, exercises and, where possible, seminar activities.

Examination Methods

Exams:
The exam consists of an oral test aiming to verify the level of achievement of the learning objectives previously indicated; namely, the acquisition of autonomous skills to understand, translate and expound the text of Plautus’ Stichus, with special regard to
-the knowledge of the history of Plautus’ text and of the tradition of Plautine studies;
-the autonomous ability to understand the critical apparatus and to expound the main textual and dramaturgic issues;
-argument skills; wealth and appropriateness of vocabulary.


N.B. Non-attending students are requested to contact the teacher in due advance so as to define a specific program.