Classical Reception

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

Classes follow a theoretical-practical method, resorting whenever necessary to the reading, analysis and discussion of other works considered relevant to the teaching of the topics of the syllabus:

- theoretical presentation of the syllabus
- reading, analysis, discussion and interpretation of the texts
- dialogue between students, led by the teacher
- presentation by the students of their assignments.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

- look at the classical tradition as key factor to read later epochal contexts;

- know and identify the literary codes and models of Classical Antiquity and their specificities;

- understand the issues that lead to the Fortleben of the classical heritage in the following centuries;

- understand the diachronic evolution of the literary genres, regarding thematic and ideological aspects and their diatopic and diaphasic singularities;

- understand the literary pragmatics of the period, in its religious, political and social context;

- know how to admire the aesthetics of post-classical works and the use of the rhetorical-stylistic codes by the authors;

- know the most relevant literary genres issued from Christian Antiquity to the Middle Ages.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

I Fortleben of classical literature and the shaping of Early Christian Greek and Latin Literature:

1 Christianity in the Roman Empire: historical and cultural context. Confrontation and assimilation.
2 The Bible: pathways of a literary tradition through the Greek and Roman world.
3 Assimilation of non-classical elements by Greek and Latin culture: the Jewish matrix
4 A new Hellenization: influence of Greek Christian literature on Latin literature
5. Adaptation of literary codes according to the pragmatism of religious, social and ideological nature of Christian authors.
6 The creation of new literary genres and adaptation of other ones: the apologetic prose.
7. Bible and the exegetical prose.

 

II. Fortleben of classical literature in the Middle Ages.

1. The importance of Charlemagne’s role in the transmission of classical heritage.
2. Religious and  profane poetry and the new rhythms
3. Hagiography.
4. Historiography.
5. Medieval Rhetoric, especially the ars praedicandi.
6. Exempla.

Head Lecturer(s)

António Manuel Ribeiro Rebelo

Assessment Methods

Continuous evaluation
Mini Tests: 50.0%
Frequency: 50.0%

Final evaluation
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Blaise, A (s./d) Dictionnaire du Latin Chrétien, Hachette

Caenegem, R. C. van (1997a), Introduction aux Sources de l'Histoire Médiévale, trans. Traduction de l'anglais par B. van den Abeele (Corpus Christianorum. Continuatio Mediaeualis; Turnholti: Brepols)

Cremaschi, Giovanni (1959), Guida allo studio del latino medievale (Padova)

Dias, P. B., (2009) Os Textos Monásticos de Ambiente Frutuosiano (tese de Doutoramento)

García de la Fuente, Olegario (1994), Latín bíblico y Latín cristiano (Madrid: Ediciones CEES)

Grandgent, C. H. (1952), Introducción al Latín Vulgar (Madrid)

Mohrmann, Christine (1961), Études sur le latin des chrétiens. Latin chrétien et médiéval, 4 vols. (Storia e letteratura, 87, 2; Roma)

Rebelo, António Manuel Ribeiro (2007), MARTYRIUM ET GESTA INFANTIS DOMINI FERNANDI - A biografia latina de D. Fernando, O Infante Santo (Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian)

Rousseau, Ph. (2009) A Companion to Late Antiquity, Blackwell.