Advanced Latin: Ovid's Metamorphoses

Catalog description

Publius Ovidius Naso (43 BCE-17 CE) produced prolific poetry on love and myth before his miserable death in exile. In this class, we will explore Ovid's contribution to literary history through the entry point of the Metamorphoses. This 15-book epic poem documents the creation of the universe through Ovid's own day and features myriad narratives of physical transformation. We will supplement several of the most exciting episodes from this fantastical poem with other works by Ovid, including the Amores, Ars Amatoria, Fasti, and Tristia, as well as by his significant predecessors. For Ovid never merely tells a story, but also collaborates intertextually with the literary tradition, from Euripides to Callimachus, Lucretius, and - of course - Virgil. Our focus will be on reading as much Latin as possible, while gaining a nuanced appreciation for the Metamorphoses, including its poetic devices, intertextuality, genre play, and connections to its socio-historical context. We will also occasionally consider the impact of the poem on later literature, theater, and art, from the Renaissance to the modern day.