Latin Literature Ma
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to:
a) provide students with methodological and critical tools for the study and interpretation of Latin literary texts, fostering their understanding of content, style, and literary-historical significance, while highlighting their cultural complexity;
b) develop students' ability to contextualize Latin texts within the ancient literary tradition and to appreciate their reception and enduring influence in later cultures, also through comparison with iconographic codes and visual language;
d) strengthen students' linguistic competence in Latin, with particular reference to phonetics, vocabulary, morphology, and syntax, in support of the reading and comprehension of original texts corresponding to Level B1 of the Latin Language Certification framework.
a) provide students with methodological and critical tools for the study and interpretation of Latin literary texts, fostering their understanding of content, style, and literary-historical significance, while highlighting their cultural complexity;
b) develop students' ability to contextualize Latin texts within the ancient literary tradition and to appreciate their reception and enduring influence in later cultures, also through comparison with iconographic codes and visual language;
d) strengthen students' linguistic competence in Latin, with particular reference to phonetics, vocabulary, morphology, and syntax, in support of the reading and comprehension of original texts corresponding to Level B1 of the Latin Language Certification framework.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the following:
Knowledge and Understanding
a) knowledge of the contents, themes, stylistic features, and historical-cultural background of the texts and authors studied during the course;
b) knowledge of the main relationships between the texts examined, the Latin literary tradition, and their relevant historical and social contexts, as well as of their cultural legacy and reception in later periods;
d) knowledge of the fundamental elements of Latin phonetics, vocabulary, morphology, and syntax necessary for the comprehension of original texts corresponding to Level B1 of the Latin Language Certification framework.
Skills and competences
Students will be able to:
a) read, understand, and critically analyse the Latin prose and poetic texts studied during the course, identifying their themes, structures, expressive strategies, and stylistic features, and using the discipline's specialist terminology appropriately;
b) interpret texts within their historical, cultural, and literary contexts, establishing connections with the literary tradition and with artistic and visual forms of expression, and applying the knowledge and skills acquired to the analysis of further phenomena of continuity, reception, and cultural transmission in later periods;
d) identify and analyse the main linguistic, lexical, and syntactic features of the texts, demonstrating linguistic competence corresponding, for the passages studied, to Level B1 of the Latin Language Certification framework.
Knowledge and Understanding
a) knowledge of the contents, themes, stylistic features, and historical-cultural background of the texts and authors studied during the course;
b) knowledge of the main relationships between the texts examined, the Latin literary tradition, and their relevant historical and social contexts, as well as of their cultural legacy and reception in later periods;
d) knowledge of the fundamental elements of Latin phonetics, vocabulary, morphology, and syntax necessary for the comprehension of original texts corresponding to Level B1 of the Latin Language Certification framework.
Skills and competences
Students will be able to:
a) read, understand, and critically analyse the Latin prose and poetic texts studied during the course, identifying their themes, structures, expressive strategies, and stylistic features, and using the discipline's specialist terminology appropriately;
b) interpret texts within their historical, cultural, and literary contexts, establishing connections with the literary tradition and with artistic and visual forms of expression, and applying the knowledge and skills acquired to the analysis of further phenomena of continuity, reception, and cultural transmission in later periods;
d) identify and analyse the main linguistic, lexical, and syntactic features of the texts, demonstrating linguistic competence corresponding, for the passages studied, to Level B1 of the Latin Language Certification framework.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
This course explores selected aspects of the Trojan myth, one of the most enduring and influential sites of cultural memory in the Western tradition and a privileged lens through which to investigate the construction of identity and the collective imagination.
The course adopts an interdisciplinary approach, combining historical and archaeological evidence with literary texts and visual sources.
In the first part of the course, students will read and analyse Seneca's tragedy Troades (The Trojan Women), with particular attention to its Greek antecedents. The text will be examined within a broader framework that connects Latin literature to issues of cultural memory, war, and migration. At the centre of the tragedy stands Hecuba, the paradigmatic figure of the defeated queen and grieving mother, around whom the sorrowful voices of the Trojan captives unfold as both witnesses to and victims of catastrophe. Through close reading and interpretation, students will acquire the tools needed to understand how Roman tragedy reworks myth in historical, ethical, and symbolic terms, reflecting the anxieties of an empire while continuing to raise questions that resonate with the modern world.
The second part of the course will be developed in collaboration with the courses in Ancient Numismatics (Prof. A. Cavagna) and Mythology of the Classical World (Prof. S. Romani). Through a selection of case studies, students will examine both the transformations of the Trojan narrative within the literary tradition and the complex interactions between text and image in shaping the cultural imagination of Troy.
Taken as a whole, the course provides the methodological and critical tools needed to understand how the Trojan myth has been continually reinterpreted across time, becoming one of the most enduring and influential cultural paradigms of Western civilisation.
Please note: in order to facilitate the integration of the three courses involved in the second part of the programme, the weekly timetable may be subject to some adjustments. Any changes will be communicated at the beginning of the course.
The course adopts an interdisciplinary approach, combining historical and archaeological evidence with literary texts and visual sources.
In the first part of the course, students will read and analyse Seneca's tragedy Troades (The Trojan Women), with particular attention to its Greek antecedents. The text will be examined within a broader framework that connects Latin literature to issues of cultural memory, war, and migration. At the centre of the tragedy stands Hecuba, the paradigmatic figure of the defeated queen and grieving mother, around whom the sorrowful voices of the Trojan captives unfold as both witnesses to and victims of catastrophe. Through close reading and interpretation, students will acquire the tools needed to understand how Roman tragedy reworks myth in historical, ethical, and symbolic terms, reflecting the anxieties of an empire while continuing to raise questions that resonate with the modern world.
The second part of the course will be developed in collaboration with the courses in Ancient Numismatics (Prof. A. Cavagna) and Mythology of the Classical World (Prof. S. Romani). Through a selection of case studies, students will examine both the transformations of the Trojan narrative within the literary tradition and the complex interactions between text and image in shaping the cultural imagination of Troy.
Taken as a whole, the course provides the methodological and critical tools needed to understand how the Trojan myth has been continually reinterpreted across time, becoming one of the most enduring and influential cultural paradigms of Western civilisation.
Please note: in order to facilitate the integration of the three courses involved in the second part of the programme, the weekly timetable may be subject to some adjustments. Any changes will be communicated at the beginning of the course.
Prerequisites for admission
Students are expected to possess a lexical and grammatical knowledge of Latin equivalent to Level A2 of the Latin Language Certification Framework (Certificazione Linguistica del Latino) (syllabus available at: http://www.cusl.eu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sillabo-.pdf).
Students with little or no prior knowledge in Latin language are strongly encouraged to contact the teacher before the beginning of the course in order to receive information on preparatory activities designed to help them acquire the necessary linguistic prerequisites.
Students with little or no prior knowledge in Latin language are strongly encouraged to contact the teacher before the beginning of the course in order to receive information on preparatory activities designed to help them acquire the necessary linguistic prerequisites.
Teaching methods
The course is delivered through a combination of guided textual analysis and active student participation. Classes centre on the close reading of the texts, including reading aloud in the original language, the discussion of a working translation, and the exploration of their linguistic, literary, and cultural dimensions. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to engage actively with the material, also through the use of interactive digital tools such as Wooclap. Regular work on translation and textual interpretation fosters the development of critical and analytical skills, enabling students to examine both prose and poetic texts from lexical, morphological, syntactic, stylistic, and interpretative perspectives. Guided practice progressively strengthens students' ability to approach literary texts with linguistic accuracy and historical awareness.
Teaching Resources
Required Text
For the first part of the course: Seneca, Le Troiane, edited by Alfredo Casamento, Rusconi Libri, 2022.
Additional Latin texts and translations discussed during both parts of the course will be made available through the Ariel course website (http://ctorrell.ariel.ctu.unimi.it) in the form of teaching materials prepared by the teacher.
Students are also required to study this volume: Stefano de Martino, Troia, l'eterna illusione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2026. ISBN: 978-88-15-39564-1.
Most bibliographical references will be introduced and discussed during class as part of the critical analysis of the texts; independent study of the wider bibliography is not required.
Requirements for Non-Attending Students
Students who do not attend classes are required to study all Latin texts discussed during the course and published on the Ariel website (http://ctorrell.ariel.ctu.unimi.it), including the translations and explanatory materials prepared by the teacher.
Required readings: Seneca, Le Troiane, edited by Alfredo Casamento, Rusconi Libri, 2022; and Stefano de Martino, Troia, l'eterna illusione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2026. ISBN: 978-88-15-39564-1; and Gianna Petrone, Storia del teatro latino, Carocci Editore, 2020.
Erasmus students and students with specific learning needs are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course in order to discuss any necessary personalised arrangements.
For the first part of the course: Seneca, Le Troiane, edited by Alfredo Casamento, Rusconi Libri, 2022.
Additional Latin texts and translations discussed during both parts of the course will be made available through the Ariel course website (http://ctorrell.ariel.ctu.unimi.it) in the form of teaching materials prepared by the teacher.
Students are also required to study this volume: Stefano de Martino, Troia, l'eterna illusione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2026. ISBN: 978-88-15-39564-1.
Most bibliographical references will be introduced and discussed during class as part of the critical analysis of the texts; independent study of the wider bibliography is not required.
Requirements for Non-Attending Students
Students who do not attend classes are required to study all Latin texts discussed during the course and published on the Ariel website (http://ctorrell.ariel.ctu.unimi.it), including the translations and explanatory materials prepared by the teacher.
Required readings: Seneca, Le Troiane, edited by Alfredo Casamento, Rusconi Libri, 2022; and Stefano de Martino, Troia, l'eterna illusione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2026. ISBN: 978-88-15-39564-1; and Gianna Petrone, Storia del teatro latino, Carocci Editore, 2020.
Erasmus students and students with specific learning needs are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course in order to discuss any necessary personalised arrangements.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment consists of a compulsory preliminary written language examination; a final oral examination.
Preliminary Written Examination
The written examination, offered in January, May, and September, consists of the translation of a Latin prose passage (maximum 15 lines) into Italian. The use of a dictionary is permitted.
The result of the written test does not contribute to the final grade of the oral examination; it serves solely as a prerequisite for admission to the oral exam.
Oral Examination
The oral examination consists of questions on the course syllabus. Students are expected to demonstrate their ability to present authors and works in their historical and literary contexts and to analyse texts studied during the course or prepared independently.
Assessment will consider: accuracy of comprehension of texts in translation; appropriate recognition of vocabulary in the original Latin; linguistic and grammatical competence; appropriate use of academic language and terminology; clarity and effectiveness of oral presentation; ability to organise and synthesise acquired knowledge; ability to establish meaningful connections between different parts of the syllabus and related disciplines.
The oral examination is graded on a 30-point scale
Evaluation Criteria for the Written Examination
Excellent / Full understanding of the text. Confident identification of morphosyntactic structures, precise comprehension of vocabulary, and an accurate, effective translation into Italian. Errors, if any, are negligible and do not affect interpretation.
Good / Good or nearly complete understanding of the text. Generally accurate recognition of morphosyntactic structures and solid lexical comprehension. Clear and appropriate translation, with only minor inaccuracies that do not compromise overall interpretation.
Satisfactory / Overall correct understanding of the general meaning of the text. Adequate recognition of the main morphosyntactic structures and common vocabulary. Translation is substantially accurate, though occasionally imprecise or stylistically uneven. Errors do not compromise the overall interpretation.
Pass / Basic understanding of the text, despite some limited gaps. Partial recognition of morphosyntactic structures and restricted vocabulary knowledge. Translation is simple and occasionally approximate, but succeeds in conveying the essential meaning. Errors are present but do not prevent overall comprehension.
Fail / Incomplete or incorrect understanding of the text. Inadequate recognition of morphosyntactic structures and insufficient lexical competence. Translation is fragmented, inaccurate, or incoherent, with serious and widespread errors that compromise comprehension of the text as a whole.
Evaluation Criteria for the Oral Examination (30-point Scale)
29-30 cum laude / Outstanding and critical knowledge of course topics; excellent ability to contextualise authors and works; rigorous textual analysis and, where required, discussion of vocabulary in the original language; precise use of disciplinary terminology; clear, coherent, and well-argued presentation; strong ability to establish independent connections across across the syllabus and related disciplines.
26-28 / Good knowledge of the course material; sound contextualisation of authors and works; accurate, though not always fully developed, textual analysis; adequate competence in dealing with vocabulary in the original language; generally correct disciplinary terminology; clear and organised presentation; ability to establish relevant connections across the syllabus.
23-25 / Overall satisfactory knowledge of the course content; ability to contextualise authors and works in their essential aspects; adequate but mainly descriptive textual analysis; sufficient competence in interpreting vocabulary in the original language; occasionally imprecise terminology; clear but not always analytical presentation; limited ability to establish connections across the syllabus.
18-22 / Basic knowledge of the fundamental topics of the course; limited contextualisation of authors and works; analysis restricted to the most evident textual features; partial competence in dealing with vocabulary in the original language; occasionally inaccurate terminology; simple but comprehensible presentation; limited ability to organise knowledge and connect course topics.
Below 18 / Fragmentary or seriously deficient knowledge of the course material; inability or major difficulty in contextualising authors and works; absent, inadequate, or incorrect textual analysis; insufficient understanding of vocabulary in the original language; inappropriate use of disciplinary terminology; incoherent or unclear presentation; inability to organise knowledge or establish meaningful connections across the syllabus.
Preliminary Written Examination
The written examination, offered in January, May, and September, consists of the translation of a Latin prose passage (maximum 15 lines) into Italian. The use of a dictionary is permitted.
The result of the written test does not contribute to the final grade of the oral examination; it serves solely as a prerequisite for admission to the oral exam.
Oral Examination
The oral examination consists of questions on the course syllabus. Students are expected to demonstrate their ability to present authors and works in their historical and literary contexts and to analyse texts studied during the course or prepared independently.
Assessment will consider: accuracy of comprehension of texts in translation; appropriate recognition of vocabulary in the original Latin; linguistic and grammatical competence; appropriate use of academic language and terminology; clarity and effectiveness of oral presentation; ability to organise and synthesise acquired knowledge; ability to establish meaningful connections between different parts of the syllabus and related disciplines.
The oral examination is graded on a 30-point scale
Evaluation Criteria for the Written Examination
Excellent / Full understanding of the text. Confident identification of morphosyntactic structures, precise comprehension of vocabulary, and an accurate, effective translation into Italian. Errors, if any, are negligible and do not affect interpretation.
Good / Good or nearly complete understanding of the text. Generally accurate recognition of morphosyntactic structures and solid lexical comprehension. Clear and appropriate translation, with only minor inaccuracies that do not compromise overall interpretation.
Satisfactory / Overall correct understanding of the general meaning of the text. Adequate recognition of the main morphosyntactic structures and common vocabulary. Translation is substantially accurate, though occasionally imprecise or stylistically uneven. Errors do not compromise the overall interpretation.
Pass / Basic understanding of the text, despite some limited gaps. Partial recognition of morphosyntactic structures and restricted vocabulary knowledge. Translation is simple and occasionally approximate, but succeeds in conveying the essential meaning. Errors are present but do not prevent overall comprehension.
Fail / Incomplete or incorrect understanding of the text. Inadequate recognition of morphosyntactic structures and insufficient lexical competence. Translation is fragmented, inaccurate, or incoherent, with serious and widespread errors that compromise comprehension of the text as a whole.
Evaluation Criteria for the Oral Examination (30-point Scale)
29-30 cum laude / Outstanding and critical knowledge of course topics; excellent ability to contextualise authors and works; rigorous textual analysis and, where required, discussion of vocabulary in the original language; precise use of disciplinary terminology; clear, coherent, and well-argued presentation; strong ability to establish independent connections across across the syllabus and related disciplines.
26-28 / Good knowledge of the course material; sound contextualisation of authors and works; accurate, though not always fully developed, textual analysis; adequate competence in dealing with vocabulary in the original language; generally correct disciplinary terminology; clear and organised presentation; ability to establish relevant connections across the syllabus.
23-25 / Overall satisfactory knowledge of the course content; ability to contextualise authors and works in their essential aspects; adequate but mainly descriptive textual analysis; sufficient competence in interpreting vocabulary in the original language; occasionally imprecise terminology; clear but not always analytical presentation; limited ability to establish connections across the syllabus.
18-22 / Basic knowledge of the fundamental topics of the course; limited contextualisation of authors and works; analysis restricted to the most evident textual features; partial competence in dealing with vocabulary in the original language; occasionally inaccurate terminology; simple but comprehensible presentation; limited ability to organise knowledge and connect course topics.
Below 18 / Fragmentary or seriously deficient knowledge of the course material; inability or major difficulty in contextualising authors and works; absent, inadequate, or incorrect textual analysis; insufficient understanding of vocabulary in the original language; inappropriate use of disciplinary terminology; incoherent or unclear presentation; inability to organise knowledge or establish meaningful connections across the syllabus.
LATI-01/A - Latin Language and Literature - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Torre Chiara
Professor(s)
Reception:
I semester (from 14th September 2026) by appointment (send an email before)
Online_Teams. Team: "ricevimento Prof. Chiara Torre" CODE: qia34rx