| Unit name | Rereading Lucretius |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CLAS30016 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Laura Jansen |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
NONE |
| Co-requisites |
NONE |
| School/department | Department of Classics & Ancient History |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit is designed to appeal to all those who may want to consider Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura from the less explored perspective of its reception in modern fiction. Infinity, the void, the swerve, time, circularity and the crossing of intellectual boundaries are amongst the most intriguing themes in Lucretius’ poem about the universe. These themes have not only been the focus of academic writing, but have also preoccupied writers of fiction, whose engagement with Lucretius, whether explicit or allusive, has produced some of the most perceptive and illuminating criticism of his oeuvre. We shall concentrate on select passages of books 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the DRN in translation and on a series of texts, drawn from the writings of Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina, 1899-1986) and Italo Calvino (Italy, 1923-1985), which are in dialogue with the poem. We will in turn discuss the merits of fiction as a form of criticism of Lucretius (and Roman authors more generally), and explore instances in academic writing.
• On successful completion of this unit students will have (1) developed a detailed knowledge and in-depth critical understanding of a canonical Roman text and its reception in modern fiction. (2) had experience in reading and evaluating extracts from key literary and academic sources. (3) demonstrated the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument.
10 x 2 hour seminars
One summative coursework essay of 3,000 words, plus a 90 minute exam, both assessing: (1) students’ knowledge and understanding of Luctretius’ canonical Roman text and its reception in modern fiction, (2) evaluation of extracts from literary and academic sources; (3) the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument.
Hurley A. (2000), Jorge Luis Borges: Fictions, with Introduction and Commentary. Penguin Modern Classics. London.
Calvino, I. (1972) Invisible Cities, trans. by W. Weaver. Vintage Books. London(1993), Six Essays for the Next Millennium: The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures 1985-86. Vintage International Editions. Harvard.
Kennedy D. F. (2002), Rethinking Reality: Lucretius and the Textualization of Nature. Ann Arbor.
Lucretius: On the Nature of the Universe, a verse translation by R. Melville. Oxford World Classics. Oxford: 2008
From Borges’ Fictions students will read three short stories: The Library of Babel The Book of Sand The Garden of Forking Paths
