Advanced Languages Portal (List View)

In this module, we will take a guided journey through the first book of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, one of the most influential works of classical literature. Designed for those with at least a basic knowledge of Latin, the module invites you to read the original text closely, exploring its grammar, metrics, and storytelling. Sessions will run like a collaborative reading group: you will prepare sections of the text in advance using a specially prepared student edition, then we will work through the passages together—pausing to address questions, clarify difficult points, and follow areas of interest raised by participants. Along the way, we will consider why Ovid’s epic of transformations has captivated readers for centuries, inspiring countless works of art, literature, and philosophy. Whether you are drawn to its mythological richness, its poetic artistry, or simply the joy of reading Latin in community, this module offers both structure and freedom to deepen your appreciation of Ovid’s masterpiece. Session 1: Creation (Lines 1-88) Session 2: The Golden, Silver, Bronze, Iron Ages; the Giants; Jupiter threatens to destroy the world (Lines 89-198) Session 3: Lycaon; The Great Flood (Lines 199-292) Session 4: The Drowned World; Deucalion & Pyrrha (Lines 293-380) Session 5: Recreation of the world; Python; Daphne and Apollo (beginning) (Lines 381-472) Session 6: Daphne & Apollo (cont); Inachus mounts for Io (473-587) Session 7: Io (588-688) Session 8: Syrinx, Io returned to human form; Phaeton (689-779) [show less]

This series will help introduce students to the breadth and depth of Greek texts available for intermediate-level study. Each month, Dr. Larry Swain surveys the group to see which text students are most interested in exploring next. Some of the texts we could explore in a given month include: • Stump the Swain: Easy Classical Greek Readings • Easy Koine Greek Readings • Advanced Greek Readings: Gospel of Matthew • Advanced Greek Readings: Gospel of John Series • Advanced Greek Readings: Paul's Letter to the Galatians Note: Please refer to the Required Texts section on a month's iteration page to see which texts the group has decided upon for a given month. [show less]

This series will help introduce students to the breadth and depth of Latin texts available for intermediate-level study . Each month, our preceptors survey the group using the Intermediate Latin Series survey form to see which text students are most interested in exploring next. Some of the texts we could explore in a given month include: • Latin: The Vulgate Gospel of Matthew • Latin: Plautus' Miles Gloriosus (the Braggart Soldier) • Latin: Augustine's Confessions • Intermediate Latin Readings: Catullus • Intermediate Latin Readings: The Vulgate Bible 1 • Intermediate Latin Readings: The Vulgate Hester • Intermediate Latin Readings: Caesar’s Gallic Wars • Intermediate Latin Readings: Martial’s Epigrammata • Intermediate Latin Readings: Gesta Romanorum • Intermediate Latin Readings: Horace • Advanced Latin Readings: Cicero's Pro Archia Oration • Advanced Latin Readings: Aesop's Fables • Advanced Latin Readings: Hobbitus Ille • Advanced Latin Readings: Silius Italicus' 'Punica' • Advanced Latin Readings: Vergil's Aeneid in a Year Note: Please refer to the Required Texts section on a month's iteration page to see which texts the group has decided upon for a given month. [show less]

This module, which builds on the skills taught in the previous Middle High German Modules, looks at another representative of the Medieval German so-called Spielmannsdichtung (pseudo-minstrel tales). It tells the story of the Duke Ernest, who after unsuccessfully waging an assassination attempt and civil war against his misled step-father (and Holy Roman Emperor) flees to the Far East as a crusader, encountering mythical creatures and far-off places reminiscent to anyone who has read the Old English Wonders of the East. We will follow the methods used in other Middle High German modules and look at the Herzog Ernst poem both as literature and as a chance for interested students to continue perfecting their Middle High German reading skills. We will read selections of the text in the original language and translate them into English. Since it’s not entirely feasible to assume that everyone has access to a modern English translation, we will primarily discuss the translated sections, although a summary of the poem in general will be given. Questions discussed in the module will include questions of genre (as always) and the connection between the frame story and the second narrative, monsters and the bridal-quest, the medieval political philosophy and the HRE (Holy Roman Empire), crusade poetry, and more. The language of Herzog Ernst is roughly equivalent to the language of the Nibelungenlied, so completion of the Middle High German 1 and 2 modules are strongly encouraged. If you have any questions or need help, please feel free to contact Dr. Schendel. [show less]

(Note: This module can be joined in any month. In addition, all class sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.) This series will help introduce students to the breadth and depth of Old Norse texts available for study. Each month, Dr. Anderson surveys the group using the Old Norse survey form to see which text students are most interested in exploring next. Some of the texts we could explore in a given month include: • Vǫlsunga Saga (“The Saga of the Vǫlsungs”) • The excerpted short texts in Jesse Byock’s Viking Language 2 (which can both be ordered from Amazon, etc.) • The other short but complete texts in Byock’s saga series: The Tale of Thorstein Staff-struck and/or Saga of the People of Weapon’s Fjord (which can both be ordered from Amazon, etc.) • Njáls saga. (There is a modernized Icelandic text online.) • Laxdœla saga. (There is a modernized Icelandic text online.) • Egil’s saga. (A free PDF of a good edition is available from the Viking Society.) • The Prose Edda, or portions thereof (Free PDFs are available from the Viking Society.) • Something from the legendary sagas (besides Vǫlsunga saga), e.g.: --- Hrólfs saga kraka. (There is a modernized Icelandic text online.) --- Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks (A free PDF of C. Tolkien’s edition/translation is available from the Viking Society.) --- Ragnars saga loðbrókar (Olsen’s 1908 edition is available as a PDF online.) • Something form the chivalric and/or Arthurian sagas (various texts online or in print). • Eddic poetry (various texts are available online). • Faroese ballads of the Vǫlsungs (not technically “Old Norse”, but the 19th-century editions are available online). But there are many other possibilities! [show less]