Course description
"A good mind is neither borrowed nor bought" so wrote Seneca in one of his Moral Epistles to Lucilius. This semester, we will better our minds (and Latin) by reading a selection of Seneca's moral philosophical letters. Instead of strict philosophical doctrine, these letters offer wisdom regarding the timeless questions of human life: inner values and monetary possessions, exercising mind and body, time and friendship - written in a characteristically pointed style. We will also consider Seneca's advice in the larger context of his life and works by reading about his death in Tacitus and, if time allows, by engaging with some of his philosophical essays.

Course requirements
Preparation for and participation in classes: 30% of your final grade.
You will need to come to each class prepared to translate the assigned passages smoothly and to participate in a discussion about the structure and meaning of the text. You will not be allowed to read out a prepared translation, but can make use of personal notes in the margins of your text. Occasionally, I may ask you to write a summary of what you have read about in English. In preparing for the class, you are strongly encouraged to use the helpful notes provided by Anna Lydia Motto in our class text. In one pre-selected class you will also be asked to summarize and discuss (in about 10 minutes) a short article related to the day's reading.
Quizzes: 15%
Three announced short web-quizzes testing your translation, grammar and interpretative skills on a short passage assigned for the day during the semester.
Midterm: 15% on November 1st.
Translation of a passage as well as question on its grammar, style and interpretation selected from texts we have covered during the first part of the semester.
Paper: 20% due on November 15th.
Translation and discussion of a short Seneca passage that we did not read in class. You should have your selected passage approved by me during my office hours at least two weeks prior to the paper due date.
Final: 20% on December 16th.
Translation of a passage as well as question on its grammar, style and interpretation selected from texts we have covered during the semester.
Discussions with the instructor. You are encouraged to discuss any questions about the course with me during my office hours. You should also plan on seeing me at least once during the semester to discuss your work on your paper.

Attendance policy: You need to attend class to be able to complete this course. Note also the CAS policy on incompletes: this is an extreme option available only in special cases.

Plagiarism and cheating: The Academic Conduct Code (in your Student Handbook, also available in CAS 105) defines what qualifies as cheating and plagiarism. We shall discuss in class how you can avoid cheating and develop a professional writing style of your own.

Textbook: (Available at Barnes and Noble on Kenmore Square)
Seneca's Moral Epistles: selected and edited with introduction, notes and vocabulary by Anna Lydia Motto. Wauconda, IL 2001. ISBN: 0-86516-487-8

Schedule of readings:
Introduction
Sept. 4: Introduction by Pat Johnson: Seneca and his times
Sept. 6: no class meeting, web component only: Epistle 1: The Value of Time (33), all should also read Motto 2001 (textbook), pp. xi-xiv.

Seneca's epistolary practice
Sept. 9: Epistle 21, lines 1-44: A Lasting Monument (44)
Sept. 11: Epistle 21, ll. 45-81; Epistle 38: Conversation (56)
Sept. 13: Epistle 52, ll. 1-47: Moral guide (47)
Sept. 16: Epistle 52, ll. 47-92 (46)
Sept. 18: Epistle 3: Friendship (41) Presentation 1: Clark/Motto 1993
Sept. 20: Quiz 1: Epistle 6: Sharing Possessions (43)
Sept. 23: Epistle 114, ll. 1-62: Style is the man (62) Presentation 2: Edwards 1997; everyone reads Edwards 1997, pp. 23-31.
Sept. 25: Epistle 114, ll. 62-139 (77) Presentation 3: Too 1994; everyone reads Too 1997, sections 3, 4 and 5 (pp. 213-219)
Sept. 27: Epistle 114, ll. 139-205 (67) Class discussion of Edwards and Too.

Seneca's social criticism
Sept. 30: Epistle 42: Rarity of vir bonus (57)
Oct. 2: Epistle 72, ll. 1-63: Priority of philosophy (63) Presentation 4: Griffin 1988
Oct. 4: Epistle 72, ll. 63-80; Epistle 44: Pedigrees (61)
Oct. 7: Epistle 27: Virtue, Epistle 62: Scorn riches (74) Presentation 5: Wedeck 1955, Motto 1996
Oct. 9: Epistle 7: Avoid the crowd (75) Presentation 6: Wistrand 1990; Clark/Motto 1993
Oct. 11: Quiz 2: Epistle 80: Virtue is reachable (70)
Oct. 15 (special Tuesday class according to University Class Schedule): Epistle 47, ll. 1-60: Slaves (60)
Oct. 16: Epistle 47, ll. 61-123 (63) Presentation 7: Bradley 1986.

Analyzing the epistles: matters of text, structure and style
Oct. 18: Epistle 96: Manly tribute to life (32) Presentation 8: Manuscripts (Reynolds 1957 + sigla), everyone studies sigla
Oct. 21: Epistle 15: Physical exercise (60) Presentation 9: Textual debates: LeliËvre and Heller
Oct. 23: Epistle 60: Supplication, Epistle 56, ll.1-43 (69) Presentation 10: Paradox (Clark/Motto 1990). Everyone reads Motto 2001 (textbook) xix-xxiii.
Oct. 25: Epistle 56, ll. 44-101 (57) Presentation 11: Irony (Clark/Motto 1970)
Oct. 28: Epistle 115 (handout), and everyone reads Coleman 1974. Presentation 12: Special terms in Coleman's article (Coleman 1974)
Oct. 30: Epistle 115 discussion continued, review.
Nov. 1: Midterm

Seneca's philosophy in the Moral Epistles
Nov. 4: Epistle 16: Philosophy as life's guide (61)
Nov. 6: Epistle 50: Becoming better daily (61) Presentation 13: Schools of philosophy (Larson 1992)
Nov. 8: Epistle 2: Nowhere/everywhere, Epistle 43: Conscience (62) Presentation 14: Evenepoel
Nov. 11: Epistle 41: Deus intus (64) Presentation 15: Manning
Nov. 13: Epistle 18: Poverty (86)
Nov. 15: Papers due! Epistle 28: Travel (57)
Nov. 18: Epistle 84: Knowledge (90)
Nov. 20: Epistle 90 selections
Nov. 22: Epistle 90 selections, Presentation 16: Hine
Nov. 25: Quiz 3: Epistle 5: Golden Mean (56)
Dec. 2: Epistle 12: Old Age (48) Presentation 17: Habinek and Ronnick
Dec. 4: Epistle 11: Wisdom and Emotions (61)
Dec. 6: Epistle 63: Grief (90) Presentation 18: Manning 1974
Dec. 9: Epistle 54: Sickness and death, Epistle 61: Death (68)
Dec. 11: Tacitus on Seneca's death (handout). Summary

Links:
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/languages/classical/latin/tchmat/readers/accreaders/seneca/sen1h.html

Bibliography:

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