Ovid

Description: This course is meant to introduce students to the Imperial poet Ovid by reading Pyramus & Thisbe from his Metamorphoses. This course aims to share the beauty of Latin poetry by exploring the multi-dimensional nature of the genre. Students will learn scansion (lyrical rhythm and meter), learn to identify rhetorical devices, and analyze the stylistic differences between prose and poetry. This course is designed to give students an introduction to the broader world of classical studies and Latin poetry. The rigor is appropriate for a high school student wanting to practice and enjoy their Latin ability during the summer months. Translation sections, therefore, will be slightly lighter than a normal course (approximately 70 lines for the course) to allow for more time appreciating and discussing the style and medium of the story of Pyramus & Thisbe. Students will also read an English translation of certain portions of the text. Each week will have a short quiz over the previous week’s material.

A student can earn 1/4 credit for the course by completing an additional reading quiz and a Latin recitation.

Grade Level: 9+

Prerequisites: Completion of Fourth Form Latin, Henle Latin I: Units 6-14, or equivalent.

Required Materials: Latin texts are provided.