CLU34486/CLU44486 Didactic Poetry

Didactic (or ‘teaching’) poetry was a long-lived genre that flourished intermittently from the archaic period to late antiquity. In some cases engaging with profound philosophical issues, such as the nature of reality and the purpose of human life, in others combining a playful display of erudition with literary, social and political criticism, these fascinating and sometimes perplexing poems repay close and detailed study and discussion.

Module Organiser:
- Professor Monica Gale
Duration:
- One term (Jan-Apr)
Contact Hours:
- 22 (one 2-hour class per week)
Weighting:
- 10 ECTS
Assessment:
- 40% continuous assessment (one assessed presentation, one written assignment), 60% final examination

Learning Outcomes

Upon the successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Translate and analyse the prescribed texts
Identify and analyse the genre’s characteristic themes, style and diction
Give a competent and independent interpretation of the prescribed texts in their literary, philosophical and historical contexts
Critically engage with ancient and modern theories of genre and intertexuality, both in their own right and in relation to the prescribed texts