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 will explore in Latin and translation a selection of Senecan Tragedy, the 'dark side' of Seneca the Younger's literary output. We will examine the influence of Greek and Roman tragic and epic antecedents, set the 'nefarious' poetics of Senecan drama against Seneca's philosophical writings, and consider the political resonances of writing tyranny, victimhood and despair in the reign of Nero. The module will also offer the opportunity to explore the cultural impact of Seneca's tragedies and examine the potent 'afterlife' of Senecan drama in revenge tragedy more generally.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2 meetings

Scheduled learning hours: 22

Guided independent study hours: 280

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2-hour Written Examination = 40%, Coursework = 60% (1 essay, 15%, 2 commentaries, 30%, 1 class-test, 15%)

As defined by QAA
Written examinations : 55%
Practical examinations : 0%
Coursework: 45%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr E L Buckley
Module teaching staff: Dr E Buckley
Module coordinator email eb221@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Identify, read, understand and describe the key features of Senecan tragedy and its cultural milieu
• Understand and deploy the theoretical and methodological processes of relevant literary research.
• Devise coherent and critically aware arguments on the basis of a thorough analysis of the primary texts and the evaluation of relevant published scholarship
• Present their arguments both orally and in writing
• Organize their own learning, manage their workload and work to a timetable
• Engage independently with the source text, offering their own distinctive and creative translation or adaptation of the source text