University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 2

Availability restrictions: Available to General Degree students with the permission of the Honours Adviser

Planned timetable: TBC

This module explores the emergence and evolution of Roman Satire. Its core texts are selected Satires by Horace, Persius and Juvenal, but it also examines the beginnings of Roman Satire in the second century BCE, and takes in other, later Roman satirists along the way. Close reading of the primary texts forms a key component of the module, but we also home in on some of the recurring themes of Roman satire so that students can compare the approaches of different authors and analyse the development of the genre over time. Broader issues are also tackled, such as the purpose of satire (was it always moralistic?) and the relationship between satirical writing and society.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): 40 credits from LT2001, LT2002, LT2003, LT2004, including one pass at 11 or better, or a pass in LT3018, or evidence of equivalent linguistic achievement.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 x 2-hour seminar.

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2-hour Written Examination = 40%, Coursework = 60%


Re-assessment: 3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr A R Konig
Module teaching staff: Dr Alice König
Module coordinator email arw6@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Identify, understand and describe the key features and agenda of a range of Roman satirical texts
• Understand and describe the evolution of Roman satirical writing as a genre
• Identify key features of modern satirical writing, compare them with key features of ancient satirical writing, and understand their relation to each other
• Analyse ancient and modern satirical texts in relation to their social, cultural and political contexts
• Analyse and critically evaluate published research on ancient and modern satire
• Devise coherent and critically aware arguments both orally and in writing on key aspects of Roman satire on the basis of a thorough analysis of the primary texts and the evaluation of relevant published scholarship