Classics Department

The study of classical languages ties together many strands of the Academy’s liberal arts curriculum. There is no better way to appreciate a culture than to learn its language; therefore students at the Academy come into contact with the ancients more intimately by learning ancient Greek or Latin. Courses focus on syntax and translation skills, so that students are able to read, in the original language, the texts upon which the Academy’s curriculum is based. Furthermore, the study of a classical language fosters an appreciation of detail.

CL25: Latin I

A rigorous introduction to classical Latin, the goals of this course are for students to build a working vocabulary base and to acquire a thorough knowledge of the principles of inflection that govern the syntax of the language. Students learn how to decline all the types of Latin nouns and adjectives, how to conjugate verbs in the indicative mood, and how to apply their knowledge of vocabulary and forms when translating. Even from the beginning, the focus is on exposing students to as many primary Latin texts as possible; historical and cultural context will be applied whenever appropriate and helpful. Text used: Wheelock’s Latin.

CL45: Latin II

Students in the second-year Latin course solidify and increase their proficiency with Latin grammar through exposure to more complex syntactical structures. Participial phrases, indirect statements, the subjunctive mood, and subordinate clauses are studied. During the year, students are introduced to readings from classical authors including Cicero, Catullus, and Virgil, and they acquire an understanding of the fundamentals of Latin meter. By the end of the course, students will have gained the grammar skills and a familiarity with various genres of literature that will enable them to read Latin poetry and prose. Text used: Wheelock’s Latin.

CL65: Latin III

Having completed their grammatical training, third-year students read – exclusively in the original – from among the great works of Latin literature. Topics and authors vary from year to year; recent course offerings have included selections from Lucretius, Livy, Cicero, Virgil, Ovid, Apuleius, and Augustine. While reading the texts in the original Latin, students discuss points of grammar, structure, and meter as well as explore the literary and historical contexts of the works. Critical analysis of scholarly research on the texts is a frequent element of the course.

NB: This course is not being offered during the 2011-2012 academic year; a student may pursue Latin at this level by enrolling in University coursework.

CG25: Ancient Greek I

Beginning students of Greek enjoy a rigorous introduction to ancient Greek vocabulary and grammar. The twin aims of the course are vocabulary acquisition and a mastery of word-forms. Students learn noun declensions and verb conjugations in the indicative, subjunctive and optative moods; they apply their knowledge of grammar to the translation of ancient Greek sentences and short passages. As the year progresses, students gain the ability to read increasingly complex sentences and continuous Greek prose. Historical and cultural context will be applied whenever appropriate and helpful. Text used: Hansen and Quinn’s Greek: An Intensive Course.

CG45: Ancient Greek II

Second-year Greek students continue to improve their vocabulary and grammar skills while exploring more complicated aspects of Greek sentence structure. Students explore athematic verbs, indirect statements, and a variety of subordinate clauses. As their mastery of Greek increases, students read passages drawn from such authors as Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, Euripedes, and Plato. Grammatical instruction is often strengthened by English-to-Greek prose composition. Text used: Hansen and Quinn’s Greek: An Intensive Course.