The Ancient Novel

Module Provider: Classics
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2016/7

Summary module description:
This module examines fictional ancient prose narratives, looking at their structures, themes, and styles, as well as the social contexts in which they were produced and consumed.

Aims:
?To offer a broad discussion of the context and significance of various novel-like prose narratives.
?To provide detailed interpretations of selected books of individual novels and related texts, and to compare them with other ancient and modern literary genres.
?To gain an understanding of key trends in past and contemporary scholarship on the subject.
Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of this module, students are expected to:
?Relate the interpretation of specific texts and passages to broader literary, aesthetic, and social contexts
?Complement the arguments offered in the lectures and seminars with their own research;
?Analyse in detail selected passages in written commentaries;
?Articulate their arguments effectively and illustrate them with relevant evidence;
?Recognise and criticise key arguments made in recent scholarship.
Additional outcomes:
The module develops students? skills in oral communication and team work, through discussions and presentations in seminars. It also encourages critical thinking in the assessment of ancient and modern texts, and the logical and persuasive construction of arguments. It provides training in key research skills such as using web databases to locate ancient evidence and modern scholarly works.

Outline content:
Topics covered in this module may include the narrative structures of the ancient novel; its use of characterisation; its relationship with other ancient genres including epic, history, and drama; the depiction of gender, class, ethnicity, and religion in the texts studied. Ancient narratives to be discussed will include at least one of the Greek novels of Chariton, Xenophon of Ephesus, Achilles Tatius, Longus, and Heliodorus; at least one of the Latin novels by Apuleius and Petronius; and a selection of novelistic texts from the Judaeo-Christian tradition, for example Joseph and Aseneth and the Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module will be taught by lectures and seminars with at least two contact hours per week.

Contact hours:
Lectures- 8
Seminars- 2-
Guided independent study- 90
Total hours by term- 100
Total hours for module- 100

Summative Assessment Methods:
Written assignment including essay- 100%

Other information on summative assessment:
Formative assessment methods:
Students are asked to prepare a short written exercise in preparation for the final essay.

Length of examination:
N/A

Requirements for a pass:
40%

Reassessment arrangements:
Re-submission of coursework in August