ANT4000 ¨C Theory and Method in Classics

Course content

What methods are used by classical philologists? How can modern theories contribute to the understanding of ancient texts? This course provides an insight into the history of the Classical philology, as well as serves as a critical introduction to the current methods and theoretical frameworks employed in the study and interpretation of Ancient Greek and Latin texts. You will gain the theoretical foundation and learn about research tools that you will need to complete your Master's thesis.

Course content autumn 2025:

In Fall 2025 ANT4000 will have a thematic focus on Classical epic. The chief primary texts relevant to the course will be the Iliad, Apollonius of Rhodes¡¯ Argonautica, Virgil¡¯s Aeneid, and Lucan¡¯s De bello civili. We will inquire into how the study of Classics was shaped by encounters with epic - from Aristotle¡¯s Homeric questions and Servius¡¯s commentary on the Aeneid to F. A. Wolf¡¯s Prolegomena and the work by Milman Parry.? We will also explore recent research on epic poetry and the relevant methodologies developed with the fields of material history, papyrology, textual criticism, cultural studies, historical linguistics, anthropology and ethnopoetics, literary theory, narratology, and intellectual history (including the reception of Classical texts).?

Learning outcome

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

• distinguish and contextualize the main interpretive paradigms that have informed classical philology throughout its history.
• assess the strengths and limitations of existing methods and theoretical frameworks relevant to the study of Ancient Greek and Latin literatures and cultures.
• make informed decisions about the relevance of particular methodologies or theoretical approaches to your research topic.?
• take advantage of bibliographic and digital tools utilized by classical philologists.?

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester?register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

To be admitted to this course, you must be enrolled in Classical Studies (master). Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Specialization (80 ECTS credits) in Ancient Greek or Latin at the Bachelor's level.

Teaching

14 two-hour seminars.

NB: If no more than two students sign up for the course, the teaching may be given as supervised reading.?

We expect you to prepare for the seminars.

In order for you to be allowed to sit for the final examination,?the following compulsory tuition activities must be approved by the teacher:

• Approved topic for the seminar paper

• Submission of a draft of the seminar paper

• Oral presentation

• You must attend the?Classics seminar?at least once during the semester

• Reflection note on at least one of the presentations held in the Classics seminar

Approved topic for the seminar paper and approved draft of the seminar paper are activities that are valid only for the semester in which they have been approved. The other compulsory activities (when approved) are valid also for the next two semesters in which the course is offered.

Examination

Seminar paper, 10-12 pages of 2300 characters each (without spaces; not including title page and bibliography).

You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. You must familiarize yourself with Inspera before the submission deadline.?Read about how to submit your assignment in Inspera.

In order for you to be allowed to sit for the exam, all compulsory tuition activities must be approved by the teacher.

Examination support material

You are required to familiarize yourself with the rules for sources and citations. It may be considered cheating or attempted cheating to use other people's material without informing about it.

Language of examination

You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English. If you would prefer to have the exam text in English, you may apply to the course administrators.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail.?Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• How to use AI as a student
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.