Latin IV/V: Jeannie deVries

Course Overview:

Latin IV/V : Advanced Placement Vergil

Course Overview: This course will focus on Vergil's Aeneid - the poem as an epic and the poem in Augustan Rome. The course will also prepare students for the Advanced Placement Vergil examination which tests the student's ability to read, translate, understand, analyze, and interpret the following lines of the Aeneid in Latin:

Book 1: lines 1-519
Book 2: lines 1-56, 199-297, 469-566, and 735-805
Book 4: lines 1-448, 642-705
Book 6: lines 1-211, 450-476, and 847-901
Book 10: lines 420-509
Book 12: lines 791- 842, 887- 952
(Total number of lines: 1856)

Familiarity with the content of Books 1 through 12 will also be tested.

We will discuss Vergil's theme and style, scansion of dactylic hexameter, the Trojan War, and the Augustan Pax Romana.

Texts: Clyde Pharr, Vergil's Aeneid (purple Vergil)
Barbara Boyd, Vergil's Aeneid 10 & 12
Allen Mandelbaum, The Aeneid of Vergil ( a verse translation)

Highly recommended for its notes and commentary: R.D.Williams, The Aeneid of Vergil, Books 1-6. Check Moe's or Black Oak Books for a reduced price copy. A copy of this book (small red text) will be "on reserve" on the teacher desk in N-1 and on the reserve shelves of the library. This book is not required but is very useful.

Homework: we will read the Latin text at a pace of 20+ lines per night. We will parse the text on handouts as well as write out translation and scan the hexameters. It is imperative that each student keep up with the Latin reading both for acquiring facility with Vergil and for keeping the pace of the group steady. Students also must "keep at" vocabulary acquisition. There will be frequent "homework checks." Critical essays will be assigned periodically as will some memorization of lines. We will try to do as much "sight practice" as time will allow.

Grades: each marking period "homework checks" will be averaged to one quiz; regular vocabulary quizzes will be averaged to one test grade. There will be approximately two tests on the Latin of Books 1,2,4, 6 and one each for Books 10 and 12. The semester exam will count as two tests; essays will count as quizzes or as a test, depending on length.

Notebooks: please have a separate binder for Latin. Bring a pencil and some colored pencils or markers to class.

Senior Option: seniors may choose not to take one test or vocab quiz as per their personal planning needs. To exercise this option the student must write out said request at least one day prior to the assigned test/quiz. Students must take the January exam, the master vocab test, and write the major paper due in November. All other assignments are eligible for the senior option. This option only applies to first semester.

Use of the English translation: students should not use the Mandelbaum (or any other) translation for their own working out of the Latin text. "Copying Mandelbaum's translation" is cheating. And because knowing the syntax of the Latin is required of the AP course curriculum, "copying the translation" will not give you that textual knowledge. As a class we will consult Mandelbaum, as well as other translators, to see how they have dealt with various textual problems and for reading the parts of the poem not covered in the Latin textual requirements.

Absences: work missed due to absence from school is to be made up immediately. For each day of absence, you have one day in which to complete your work. It is your responsibility to arrange with me make up times for tests and quizzes.

Teacher Availability: I am available for extra help 4th, 6th, and 7th periods or after school by prior arrangement. In addition, Larissa Parsons in the Learning Center can give extra help. Check the Learning Center schedule.

Teacher Absences: in the event of a teacher absence or emergency, students are expected to continue on with reading the Latin text. Notice will be placed on the Latin room door with specific assignments. Students should assume this responsibility and not think that "class has been canceled."

Rules: be on time for class; the fourth late= detention (school rule)
no eating or drinking in class (old school rule)
no gum chewing ( my rule; bad habit)

AP audit: in the spring of 2007 AP teachers across the country were required to submit to the College Board detailed syllabi of their AP courses in order to gain authorization to call their courses "AP." My syllabus, which met their requirements, is available for your perusal.

Other Section Resources:

There are currently no publically available resources for this course.