Aims

From Suetonius and Plutarch to the death of Socrates and early Christian martyrologies, ancient biographical writing holds an enduring fascination. The course will examine the genre of biography from its origins in Classical Greece to Late Antiquity, investigating the main features of the genre and the historical circumstances of composition. We will also study the form and function of biography in the philosophical and religious writings of antiquity, and ask why turning lives into literature was (and is) so popular.

Outline Of Syllabus

Covering a variety of Greek and Roman authors and works (in translation), including Xenophon, Cornelius Nepos, Tacitus, Suetonius, Plutarch, and comparative material from the Judeo-Christian traditions (including biblical and hagiographical sources), discussion will centre on issues such as the tension between entertainment and moral purpose, ancient depictions of character and theories of character development, the importance of comparison, the significance between chronological and thematic arrangement of material, and the relationship of biography to ethical philosophy, historiography, and rhetoric.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures introduce relevant authors and texts, major literary themes and concepts, and some of the key secondary literature and methodological approaches. The analyses presented in the lectures are intended to model the kinds of investigation that students are expected to conduct in their commentary and coursework essay. The seminars provide a forum for more detailed discussion of particular passages and concepts, an opportunity for students to practice their team-work and oral presentation skills, and structured peer feedback. Seminars are organised such that everyone will be actively engaged in the learning process, whether presenting, providing critical feedback, leading questions, or producing a summary of the discussion for circulation. The drop-in sessions provide a space for discussion of essay topics and any other aspects of the course.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will demonstrate their skills in close reading and the critical analysis of a text by writing a short (750-word) commentary on a set passage. They will produce a draft plan of the argument they intend to present in their coursework essay for formative feedback. The coursework essay will allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and ability to think critically about one or more of the texts and / or themes studied.