Latin 520 (Nero): Assignment for Monday, Feb. 11
Christina (on the Octavia)
Lucan, Bks. 1-3 (Housman’s edition – the standard – is on reserve in Odegaard; Latin text also available online, as is an English translation – links on our webpage)
If you have Braund’s translation (the preferred one), it would be a v. good idea if you read her superb introduction – it will help put the poem and its subject in context.
Perhaps best to look at some specific issues associated with each book, e.g.:
Bk. 1: the ‘encomium’ of Nero early in the book – how do you reconcile this with a poem that is generally agreed to express sentiments which, if not anti-Neronian, are at least anti-Julio-Claudian?
Bk. 2: Cato is one of Lucan’s great heroes. What characteristics mark him out as ‘good’? And what is the purpose of the scene with Marcia?
Bk. 3: What is your impression of Pompey after reading this book?
Bonus question: identify significant trees in this book (this for converted Calpurnius Siculus fans, who now will see trees as a significant component of Neronian and anti-Neronian ideology!) What happens to them?
In general terms: be on the lookout for themes which we’ve already identified as ‘Neronian’.
In contrast to some of the authors we have been reading, Lucan has been comparatively well-served. A sampling of the major studies:
Ahl, F. Lucan. An Introduction. Ithaca 1976.
Bartsch, S. Ideology in cold blood: a reading of Lucan's Civil War. Cambridge MA1997
Johnson, W. R. Momentary monsters: Lucan and his heroes. Ithaca 1987.
Leigh, M. Lucan: spectacle and engagement. Oxford 1997
Masters, J. Poetry and civil war in Lucan's Bellum civile. Cambridge 1992
Reviews of both Masters and Leigh may be found in BMCR. If you’re not familiar with this, you should be. Find those reviews via the BMCR website at:
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/
Sullivan fans with lingering interest in Seneca may want to read his chapter on Seneca and Lucan as representatives of the ‘Stoic opposition’ under Nero.
Wed., Feb, 13: Sonia
Wed., Feb. 20: Mark
Mon., Feb. 25: Michael
Wed., Feb. 27: Sira and Molly
Mon., Mar. 4: Ryan and Kathleen
Wed., Mar. 6: Kari
Mon., Mar. 11: Marilyn