Assignment for Mon. October 31/Wed. November 2

• This week finish reading the speech in Latin. After finishing up working through your translations of 14-26, we’ll turn (on Monday) to RoscCom 27-39; and on Wednesday, 40-56.

Secondary reading

For Wednesday, please read pp. 9-58 of Jerzy Axer’s The Style and Composition of Cicero’s Speech ‘Pro Q. Roscio Comoedo’ (Warsaw 1980). For the sake of argument, in addition to formulating an overall opinion of the study, be prepared to identify one (or two) specific points made by Axer that you found particularly compelling...or particularly wrong. We’ll spend some time discussing Axer as a wrap-up to the RoscCom.

NB: I’ve left a photocopy of this on our reserve shelf. As usual, feel free to remove for photocopying purposes, but please return asap.

Ponderanda

• To repeat my previous suggestion – the relevance of which will become more apparent once you’ve read Axer: Continue to consider the ways in which the profession and character of Roscius appear to affect the way Cicero presents the case. Is there, that is, any sense in which Cicero plays upon Roscius’ profession – and his standing in that profession?
• Somewhat related: think about Caesar’s discussion of humor in the De oratore. Where in what you’ve read for this week do you find any instances of Cicero’s use of humor?