CAC3069 : Ancient Biography
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Richard Marshall
- Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
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 Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 25 | 1:00 | 25:00 | Lectures introduce and discuss new content. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 89 | 1:00 | 89:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 36 | 1:00 | 36:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Seminars for student-led discussion |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Drop-in for individual discussion of essay topics and essays. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 42 | 1:00 | 42:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
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 reflective and coursework essays. 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 Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 25 | 750-word close reading exercise |
| Essay | 1 | A | 75 | 2500-word essay (including footnotes, excluding bibliography) |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | Essay plan (500 words) |
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, and will demonstrate their ability to engage thoughtfully and positively with constructive criticism by writing a short reflective statement on how the feedback received was used in the drafting of the final essay. 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.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CAC3069's Timetable