course announcements

Email sent Dec. 8 (citing/riding Aristotle like a pony):

Dear Latin students,

I’ve attached a generic sheet on citing primary sources in classics. If you have specific questions, please let me know. I’m happy to answer citation questions!

A link to paintings of a woman riding Aristotle like a pony: http://the-toast.net/2015/04/29/here-are-some-paintings-of-a-woman-riding-aristotle-like-a-pony/

No, this is not a joke. But it is funny.

penny

Email sent Dec. 8 (Dec. 10 and the final):

Dear Latin students,

Please finish the play for Thursday!

I’ve attached the handouts for the research paper and the final exam.

Please note: You do not need to do any extra research for the analysis portion of the exam! This is not a research project. The purpose of this section is to explore how review class discussions, commentary, readings assigned for class, and our individual research project inform and shape your interpretation and understanding of the play. You should aim to spend no more than ninety minutes on this section. Of course, you’re welcome to spend more or less time on it, but I offer ninety minutes as a guideline for the sort of time that I expect you to put into it.

On Thursday you will receive the text and commentary for the unseen portion of the exam. This section should take about thirty minutes to complete.

See you all on Thursday! Please let me know if you have any questions.

penny


Email sent Dec. 4 (lines for Dec. 8):

Dear Latin students,

I hope you’re all enjoying the satisfaction of an excellent performance! Everyone really enjoyed it, especially the surprise ending! Thanks so much for all of the extra time that you set aside in your schedules to make this happen. I hope that you all enjoyed it as much as I did! And, for the record, the dative and Kanye jokes were a real success!

Please translate 977-1034 and scenes 11, 12, and 13 (these scenes are fragmentary).

The research paper is due on Friday, December 11, 7:59 pm.

If you would like to meet to discuss your paper, please send me an email so that we can arrange a time. Or you’re welcome to stop by during office hours.

Penny

Email sent Dec. 1 (schedule and lines for Dec. 9):

Dear Latin students,

I’ve attached two readings. One is the introduction to Erich Segal’s Roman Laughter. The Comedy of Plautus, first published in 1968. Segal discusses the possibly relationship between comedy and a Saturnalian context. The second is the introduction to David Konstan’s Roman Comedy (published in 1983). He discusses Segal’s treatment of Plautus and Saturnalia beginning at the bottom of page 29.

Schedule:

Wednesday, 6:45, Twilight Hall, Sabai Sabai: Mask making, part II/discussion of performance. I’m going to go shopping for supplies at Ben Franklin on Wednesday. My schedule is flexible, so let me know if you want to come with me. Otherwise, I’ll take suggestions for supplies. Paint? Colors? Felt? Colored cotton balls? Rubber cement? Yarn? Colors?

Thursday: Rehearsal at 51 Main during class. Perhaps we could meet at 10:55 and walk over together?

Next Tuesday, December 8: Please translate lines 977-1034. The rest of the play is fragmentary. Would you like to continue reading the fragmentary sections, or would you prefer to read one of Plautus’ plays in English and some selected scenes in Latin?

penny

Email sent Nov. 24 (google doc/schedule/lines for Dec. 2):

Dear Latin students,

I have updated the google doc. The scenes are now numbered according to the order in which they will be performed. I have inserted a page break between the scenes so that our translators can easily paste their translations. Translators, please feel free to pose any questions to the class regarding your translation at the end of the scene in blue rather than black font. This will allow the reader to easily distinguish between translation and commentary on the translation.

Please check the google doc periodically over the break, and review/translate lines 897-983 for Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Here is the schedule for the week we return from the break:

Mon, Nov. 30, 6:45 pm, Twilight Hall: Masks, part one (paper mâché/reading of lines, discussion of cue cards)

Wed, Dec. 2, 6:45 pm, Twilight Hall: Masks, part two (decorating/rehearsing)

Thurs, Dec. 3, dress rehearsal during class, performance in the evening.

Have a great break!

penny

Email sent Nov. 19 (Nov. 24 and other important dates):

Dear Latin students,

For Tuesday please review/translate lines 887-983.

Below is our schedule the week following Thanksgiving break.

Mon, Nov. 30, 6:45 pm, Twilight Hall: Masks, part one (paper mâché)

Wed, Dec. 2, 6:45 pm, Twilight Hall: Masks, part two (decorating)

I’m going to shop for supplies at Ben Franklin Wednesday afternoon. If you would like to join me, please let me know!

These evening mask sessions will also be an opportunity to discuss music, costuming, and staging.

These sessions are not mandatory, but it would be great to have as many of you there as possible. The plan is to order pizza for one night and some other food (maybe Thai?) for the other.

I’m going to call 51 Main to find out if we can rehearse during our regularly scheduled class time on Dec. 3.

Saturnalia is Dec. 3!

Please check the google doc regularly for updates and to contribute to discussions. Keep in mind that the performance is 50% of your project grade.

Lastly, our final exam will be student scheduled exam, so you will not have to take the exam at 7 pm on Dec. 18!

Also, I’ve attached an article about swearing. The author agrees with an earlier study (by Gagnér) that originally men swore by Castor, but that it was weakened by overuse, so women used it. Dorota Dutsch provides a more recent analysis starting on page seven in her discussion of the ethnography of gender in Feminine Discourse in Roman Comedy: https://books.google.com/books?id=KOep0QQ0ncUC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

penny

Email sent Nov. 17 (lines for Nov 19):

Dear Latin students,

Please translate lines 830-926 for Thursday.

penny

Email sent Nov. 12 (lines, masks, pizza, play):

Dear Latin students,

For next Tuesday, please translate lines 750-851.

Here are the lines that were selected for scenes for Saturnalia:

1) The Mercury and Sosia scene starting around 291.

2) Alcmena’s entrance (starting at line 633). Please read Jane Phillips’ short article on pregnant lady jokes sent yesterday.

3) Mercury and Sosia’s song starting at 574. You’ll probably want to include some lines before the song and after it in order to frame it.

4) Something from the lines read today (674-750), scene between Amphitruo, Alcmena, and Sosia.

Our performance should be around fifteen minutes. This means that each scene will probably be around three minutes, which will leave three minutes for narrative stitching.

Victoria and John, our translators, here is your task for this weekend: Now that we’ve narrowed the scenes to four, where should they begin and end? Please come to class with line numbers for the beginning and end of each scene. Feel free to divide the scenes between yourselves, both in terms of this weekend’s task and the translation more generally.

Those of you in charge of costumes and masks (Jason), music (Mike), dynamics of slave-master and husband-wife relations (Andy), and staging and blocking (Erika), review these scenes to start thinking about how, based on your research, you would dress, mask, stage, block, and portray the rapport between characters in terms of tone and gesture (that last task is Andy’s).

We have someone to play Alcmena, but we also need a Mercury, Sosia, and Amphitruo. And we need a narrator.

Masks. Jason will be taking the lead on the mask making, but I am taking the lead on setting up a time for us to get together over pizza and make some masks. Here is a link to a doodle poll: http://doodle.com/poll/seaztvr73suvvtyn

Please check all the times that you are available.

We will set some time aside in class to discuss updates on the translation. John and Victoria, perhaps you could share your translations with everyone through google docs? Then everyone will have read the translations and be ready to offer suggestions in class. Sharing them through google docs also means that those in charge of music, blocking, and rapport between characters will be able to offer their suggestions and contribute to the script. Shall we plan on having our first translation discussion on Nov. 24?

Erika and Mike, do you think that you’ll need assistance with stage/staging/blocking and music? If not, you too could offer suggestions for staging/blocking and music through the translations on google docs.

We could also set some time aside in our mask meeting to discuss the performance more generally.

This is kind of long email, but it’s important that we remain apprised of progress on this project since it’s so collaborative.

Have a great weekend!

penny


Email sent Nov. 10 (reading for Nov. 12):

Dear Latin students,

Please prepare lines 673-761.

On Thursday we’re going to discuss possible scenes/moments within scenes to perform for Saturnalia. Please identify four moments (approximately one page of Latin/25-30 lines each) that you think would be conducive to a good performance. The plan is to perform several short scenes stitched together by a narrator.

See you all on Thursday!

penny

Email sent Nov. 5 (reading for Nov. 10):

Dear Latin students,

Please review/translate lines 597-695 for next Tuesday.

I’ve posted the bibliography from Marshall’s book (we read several chapters from his book for our presentations). You may want to have a look at it as you begin your research projects. I’ve also posted the introduction to Amy Richlin’s Rome and the Mysterious Orient. Everyone will likely find something useful in it, as she discusses issues concerning Plautus, including translation, performance (including music and stage action), ethnicity, slavery, and audience. At some point, as you begin your research, you should have a look it at. I’ve also posted her bibliography.

Have a great weekend!

penny

Email sent Nov. 3 (midterm/reading for Nov. 5):

Dear Latin students,

I’ve set up moodle for our course, so you should be able to view your midterm grades online. I’ll be in my office tomorrow. If you would like to stop by during office hours to pick up your exam, please feel free to do so! Alternatively, you can schedule a time to stop by or I can return it to you on Thursday.

Erika will be presenting on Thursday. The reading for the presentation has been posted to the course website.

Please translate lines 597-643 for Thursday. We’ll discuss the research project/performance formally on Thursday.

penny

Email sent Oct. 29 (lines for Nov 3):

Dear Latin students,

Please translate lines 527-610 for next Tuesday.

penny

Email sent Oct. 27 (lines for Thursday):

Dear Latin students,

Please translate lines 479-550 for Thursday.

penny

Email sent Oct. 22 (midterm):

Dear Latin students,

The midterm is Tuesday, October 27 during our regularly scheduled class. Please bring a dictionary for the unseen portion of the exam. Information about the midterm is on the course website under assignments.

If you have any questions and would like to meet with me, please send me an email. I’m also happy to answer questions over email.

Have a great weekend!

penny

Email sent Oct. 20 (reading due Thursday, October 22):

Dear Latin students,

The reading for Andy’s presentation on Thursday has been posted on the course website. Please also translate lines 443-98.

The midterm will be Tuesday, October 27. Information about the midterm can be found on the course website under assignments.

See you all on Thursday!

penny

Jonathan Hall, “Who Were the Greeks?” Friday, October 16, 12:30, Twilight Auditorium

Email sent Oct. 15 (reading for Tuesday):

Dear Latin students,

Please translate lines 351-462 for Tuesday. Now that we’ve read a chunk of the play, I encourage you all to read section three from Christenson’s introduction (pages 13-45). This is not required reading, but you may find it useful preparation for the midterm.

penny

Email sent Oct. 13 (hw due Thursday, Oct. 15)

Dear Latin students,

Please review/translate lines 327-397.

Information about the midterm will be posted on the course website later this afternoon/early tomorrow morning. The midterm will be Tuesday, October 27 during class.

Jonathan Hall will be giving a talk on Friday, Oct. 16, 12:30 pm, Twilight Hall! Lunch will be provided. I’ve posted information about the talk under course announcements on the course website.

See you all on Thursday!

penny

Information about Professor Romm’s talk, Friday, Oct. 9, 12:15, Twilight Hall 201

Email sent Oct. 8 (reading due Oct. 13)

Dear Latin students,

Please translate lines 270-362. Lines 270-320 were already assigned for Thursday’s class, but please review these lines again before Tuesday.

The first handout on meter in Plautus’ Amphitruo has been posted under class materials. Feel free to have a look at it, if you would like. We’ll go over it in class on Tuesday.

Have a great weekend, and hopefully I’ll see you all tomorrow for Professor Romm’s talk!

penny

Email send Oct. 6 (reading due Thursday, Oct. 8):

Dear Latin students,

Please translate lines 270-320 for Thursday and read the two articles assigned for Thursday.

We’ll discuss the midterm on Tuesday, October 13.

As you probably all know by now, Professor James Romm of Bard College will be giving a talk on Friday, 12:15, Twilight Hall 201. Information about the talk can be found under announcements. I encourage you all to attend! It’ll be a great talk, and lunch will be provided.

See you all on Thursday!

penny

Email sent Oct. 1 (Mary Beard)

Dear Latin students,

Here is the promised article on Mary Beard:

The Troll Slayer (an article about Mary Beard, author of Laughter in Ancient Rome. On Joking, Tickling, and Cracking Up) : http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/01/troll-slayer

penny

Email sent Oct. 1 (reading due Oct. 6)

Dear Latin students,

Please translate lines 185-276 for Tuesday.

Have a good weekend!

penny

Email sent Sept. 29 (reading due Oct. 1)

Dear Latin students,

For Thursday please translate lines 152-210. There is also a reading due on Thursday (Jason and Victoria will present). You will find the reading on the course website.

It looks like Dec. 5th will be the date for the UVM/Middlebury gathering. The plan is for us to get together to watch A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, eat some delicious food, and discuss the movie. UVM has offered to host us, and Professor Chiu has promised some deliciosa bellaria (delicious desserts). This is not a mandatory gathering, but will offer a pleasant, end of the semester diversion. And it will be an opportunity to meet others reading the same texts! Please let me know if you are interested.

See you all on Thursday!

penny

Email sent Sept. 25 (assignments and readings)

Dear Latin students,

The research presentation guidelines have been posted under assignments. The reading for Oct. 8 has been posted under readings (there are two).

Enjoy!

penny

Email sent Sept. 22 (reading due Sept. 29)

Dear Latin students,

Please translate lines 88-152 for Tuesday. The reading due on Thursday (“The Experience of Roman Comedy”) has been posted on the course website under readings. Tomorrow morning information about expectations for presenters will be posted on the course website under assignments. The reading due Oct. 8 will also be posted tomorrow morning. On Thursday, Oct. 1 our presenters will be Jason and Victoria.

Tuesday will be the very first Latin table! All students who have had at least one year of Latin at Middlebury or two years of high school Latin are welcome to attend. No one will not be expected to begin speaking without guidance. I’ll provide words lists and sentence structures for focus, and there will be games with white boards to ease us from the written to spoken word. So spread the word if you know anyone who might be interested!

Victoria and Jason, I’ll leave it to you to decide how you want to divide the reading between you for Thursday, but please feel free to ask questions.

Have a great weekend!

penny

Email sent Sept. 17 (HW due Sept. 22)

Dear Latin students,

For Tuesday, please translate lines 1-85 and read “Comedy, Atellane Farce, and Mime” by Costas Panayotakis (posted under readings on the course website). These lines may be too many or too few lines. We’ll have a discussion about our pacing together on Tuesday. Please do not spend more than three hours translating the first assignment. If you see a form that looks unfamiliar to you, consult the resource on morphology and syntax posted under class materials. If you are unable to identify the form, don’t panic! We’ll discuss the form together in class on Tuesday.

All emails that I send to you will be posted on the course website under course announcements.

Here is a link to the course website, which is where you will find the syllabus: go/plautus

Have a great weekend, and please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

penny