ANT2700 – Ancient Literature in Translation
Course description
Course content
Ancient Greek and Roman literature (covering a period from approximately 800 BCE to 500 CE) is in many ways the basis of our own culture and our own way of thinking; numerous literary texts produced in classical antiquity have been highly influential on the literature of later periods and remain so to this day. This course provides an overview of the literary history of the classical world and presents, in its main part, an introduction to the most important works of Greek and Roman literature. All texts are read in translation.
Learning outcome
When you have completed this course:
- you have an overview of the history of ancient Greek and Latin literature from 800 BCE to 500 CE (authors, works, genres, trends, developments) and you are able to situate the works in the reading list in a historical and literary context.
- you have knowledge of some of the most important and most influential classics (e.g. Homer, Sophocles, Virgil, Ovid) and of some major genres (e.g. epic poetry, dramatic poetry, novel) in ancient literature.
- you are able to interpret and evaluate ancient literary texts (in translation) with emphasis on their literary aspects (plot, characterization, stylistic traits).
- you are able to identify and evaluate similarities as well as differences between ancient and modern literature.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO, must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with ANT4700 – Ancient Literature in Translation (discontinued).
Teaching
14 two-hour lectures/seminars.?The lectures will be recorded and made available in Canvas.
We highly recommend that you prepare for the lectures as these will focus on the texts on the reading list.
In order for you to be allowed to sit for the final examination,?the following compulsory tuition activity must be approved by the teacher:
- two written assignments. You submit your assignments in Canvas.
Approved tuition activities are valid also for the next two semesters in which the course is offered.
Since the lectures are recorded and the compulsory tuition activities are submitted in Canvas, the course may be taken as a distance learning course. Please note, however, that the examination takes place in UiO's examination halls in Oslo.
Examination
Written examination (4 hours).
Written examinations are carried out in the digital examination system Inspera. You must familiarize yourself with the digital examination arrangements in Inspera before your written exam.?Read more about digital school exams.
Please note that the examination takes place in UiO's examination halls in Oslo. You cannot conduct the exam at home or in another location outside our examination halls.?
In order for you to qualify for the final examination, all compulsory assignments must be approved by the teacher.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.?
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail.?Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.