Universität Wien

090037 SE SE Lateinisches Seminar [+Bachelorarbeit] (2019S)

Avianus und die antike Fabel

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 06.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 13.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 20.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 27.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 03.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 10.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 08.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 15.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 22.05. 08:00 - 09:30 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 29.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 05.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 12.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 19.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Wednesday 26.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Bibliothek 2 d. Inst. f. Klass. Philologie, Mittel- und Neulatein Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Fables are part of world literature, but they are also a significant minor narrative form in Greek and Latin Literature. They can occur as moments in other more important forms (e.g. Hesiod’s ainoi), more extensive narrations in independent works (e.g. Horace’s Satires) or they can be independent works, either in prose and verse. Some authors such as Babrius and Phaedrus created their own collections of fables. The study of fables is a wide and complicated field, akin to Märchen- or Exempla-Forschung, where the same types occur in widely separated cultures and a times distant from one another. Such is the fate of accessible and amusing material! Both wisdom and animals are somewhat neglected topics in Latin Literature, so seems like a good moment to work on fables in a seminar. There is a short German introduction by Holzberg, and many important editions and commentaries are now out of copyright and available on the internet. We will be working on the last classical Latin fabulist, namely Avianus, who dates to the 4th/5th C. CE.

The aim of the course will be to study the individual fables of Avianus both through close reading and through broader research into source-criticism, fortuna, and significance.

Assessment and permitted materials

Grades will be assessed on the basis of oral performance in class (60%) and a final paper (40%). Classwork will consist of translation, close reading, research on specific questions, study of secondary material, active participation in discussion, the occasional short report, and a short presentation of the planned paper-topic. Students will be expected to formulate their own meaningful and (at least somewhat) original research question for their final paper. It is also possible that we may do some more creative work with fables.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Must be able to read Latin well and scan Latin verse, to analyse an apparatus criticus, and to have a basic understanding of how to undertake research (both online and offline) in Classics. Even a small amount of Greek would be helpful. Curiosity is invaluable.

Examination topics

Not applicable

Reading list

A few of the works we'll use:
Ellis, R. The Fables of Avianus edited with prolegomena, critical apparatus, commentary, excursus, and index. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1887.
Hervieux, L. Les fabulistes latins depuis le siècle d'Auguste jusqu'à la fin du moyen âge. Tome 3. Avianus et ses anciens imitateurs. 5 vols. Vol. 3. Paris: Firmin-Didot, 1894.
Holzberg, N. Die antike Fabel eine Einführung. 2., verb. u. erw. ed. Darmstadt: Wiss. Buchges., 2001.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:31