Latin: Ancient Prose and Poetry

This course offers advanced study of ancient Latin prose and poetry through the reading of representative texts in annotated scholarly editions. You will explore the works of central Roman authors and gain insight into the linguistic, literary, and cultural features that shaped the classical tradition. Texts are read in their historical context, allowing students to connect language with the intellectual, political and social life of antiquity.

A key component of the course is the introduction to philological theory and method. You will learn how classical texts are transmitted, edited and interpreted, while engaging with manuscript traditions, textual criticism, commentary literature, and questions of genre, authorship and reception. Attention is also given to the historical development of the Latin language during antiquity and its role within the broader humanistic tradition.

By combining language skills, close reading and theoretical reflection, the course provides a deeper understanding of Latin as a literary and cultural medium.

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

The teaching is conducted mainly through seminars, which require careful preparation and active participation. You are expected to translate assigned passages in advance, consult commentaries and reflect on linguistic, stylistic and interpretative questions. The seminar discussions focus on syntax, vocabulary, rhetoric, metre, intertextuality, and historical context.

Complementing the seminars are teacher-guided independent studies, including structured reading tasks, translation exercises, and short analytical reflections on scholarly literature. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on philological methods; you learn to compare textual variants, understand editorial decisions, and relate texts to broader literary and intellectual traditions.

The assessment is conducted through oral and/or written examination, as agreed between teacher and student. The examination may include translation, textual commentary or theoretical discussion. Active participation in seminars forms an integral part of the learning process.

The course is held on campus and cannot be attended online.

Having completed the course, you will be able to read and interpret Latin texts of substantial linguistic and stylistic complexity. You will have developed a critical understanding of prose and poetry from antiquity, along with the ability to contextualise texts within Roman culture, politics and intellectual history.

You will also have acquired foundational skills in philological theory and method, such as analysing manuscript evidence, evaluating scholarly interpretations and using academic tools for Latin studies. These skills provide an excellent preparation for thesis work and further studies within classical philology, ancient history, literary studies, and related fields.

Beyond academia, the course fosters transferable skills: analytical precision, linguistic awareness, source criticism, and the capacity to interpret complex material independently, competences valuable in professions related to education, cultural heritage, research, libraries, archives and the broader humanities.

Entry requirements

Knowledge corresponding to LATK01 Latin: Level 3 - B. A. Course, 30 ECTS credits.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 33,750
First payment: SEK 33,750

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.