LATIN 307 A: Vergil

Spring 2026
Meeting:
MTWF 11:30am - 12:20pm
SLN:
15758
Section Type:
Lecture
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

Lat. 307A鈥擵ergil

Vergil_mosaic.jpg

 

INSTRUCTOR: Michael Ritter, 海角网

email: mritte@uw.edu

Office hours: M: 10:30am or by appointment. Email is preferred for logistical matters and in person is preferred for course content questions. Zoom is also an option.

Office: Denny Hall, 海角网 Meeting Room, Denny 255.

海角网 Department Telephone/Message:  206.543.2266

If you have questions about adding coursework in 海角网, Latin or Greek to your UW program of study, please email us at clasdept@uw.edu or stop by Denny 262 E! 海角网 would love to have you!

Class Meetings

MTWF: 11:30-12:20pm THO 211

Required textbooks: 

  • Barbara Weiden Boyd (ed.), Vergil鈥檚 Aeneid: Expanded Collection, Bolchazy-Carducci 2013

Standard reference grammar: 

  • J.H. Allen and J.B. Greenough, revised by Anne Mahoney, A New Latin Grammar Focus Publishing 2001. 

-Older pre-Mahoney editions of Allen and Greenough are available free online through UW Libraries and elsewhere, and are fine for most purposes.  Here is a link to a free online facsimile which has the advantage of showing the actual pages and section numbers of the paper book:   

Useful Resources

Description:

This course serves as an introduction to the first half of Vergil's Aeneid, with readings in Latin from Books 1, 2, 4, and 6. The aim is to acquire familiarity with the poetry, themes, style, and vocabulary of this important poem. Attention will be paid in class to translation of selected passages and reading of the Vergilian hexameter as well as discussion of broader issues such as the idea of epic, tradition, imitation, innovation, 海角网itas, empire, and the Augustan age. The course involves consolidation and review of Latin grammar with exercises in prose composition. 

*Please note that the syllabus is subject to change

Course Assessment:  

Composition Assignments (80 pts.)The goal is to become comfortable with composing at least five simple sentences in Latin per assignment, hopefully using some topics and vocabulary that occur in what we have read in the Aeneid. I expect you to demonstrate your clear understanding of subject-verb agreement and noun-adjective agreement. It鈥檚 also good to show you know that Latin likes to put the verb at the end of the sentence. 

Instead of providing you with English sentences and asking you to translate them into Latin, I am asking you to come up with your own sentences in Latin. We will then read them together in class. You can talk about anything that you wish; you can make a little story if you wish (fan fiction is definitely encouraged!); try to use at least five vocabulary items from what we have read in the Aeneid at the time of the assignment, and underline the vocabulary that you borrow from Virgil.

Participation (80 pts.): Regular attendance in class is assumed and participation is assessed rather in terms of engagement with the class. This might be shown through interactions (constructive involvement in group work, discussion, translation, questions, comments, curiosity about the material) both inside and outside of class. I try to call on all students in class and create an open and supportive atmosphere where students are comfortable responding even if they feel they do not have an answer or the 鈥渞ight鈥 answer. 

Exams (140 pts.; 4.17 and 5.15.): Exams may test the following: assigned reading; grammar and English-Latin composition; 鈥榮ight鈥 translation; scansion; some issues of literary and cultural context discussed in class

Cumulative Final Exam (100 pts.): 6.10.26, 2:30-4:20pm THO 211

 

Resources

  • (Can be used for variety of needs)
  •  (offering Zoom appointments) 
  • .

 

Policies on Conduct

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an environment where the free exchange of ideas is an integral part of the academic learning environment. Disruption or domination of discussions can prohibit other students from fully engaging and participating. Any student causing disruption may be asked to leave the discussion and, depending on the severity and frequency of that behavior, an incident report may be filed with Community Standards and Student Conduct. As a condition of enrollment, all students assume responsibility for observing standards of conduct that will contribute to the pursuit of academic goals and to the welfare of the academic community. For more detailed information on these standards, please visit this page.

Religious Accommodation 

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW鈥檚 policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at the Registrar's Religious Accommodations Policy page. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form available at https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/.

Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism and cheating constitute academic misconduct and will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is the use of other people's words, thoughts, and/or ideas without properly citing their source. Plagiarism may involve any of the following: 1) blatant copying the work of others including your classmates; 2) paraphrasing the words or ideas of another without acknowledging the source; 3) using other peoples' theories or ideas without acknowledging the source; 4) utilizing any fact, not of your own creation/discovery, that is not already common knowledge; 5) turning in another person's work as your own. Plagiarized work will result in a 鈥0鈥 for the assignment. If you have any questions concerning this issue, please see me immediately and/or see the Statement of Academic Responsibility.


Week 1

Monday: 3.30

    • Introduction Aeneid 1.1-11 

Tuesday: 3.31

    • Read pp. 41-59
    • Aeneid 1. 12-22

Wednesday: 4.1

    • Boyd, Introduction (pp. xiii-xxxi)
    • Read Aeneid 1. 23-49

Friday: 4.3

    • Composition Assignment Due by 11:30am


Week 2

Monday: 4.6

    • Aeneid 1. 34-64

Tuesday: 4.7

    • Aeneid 1. 71-91

Wednesday: 4.8

    • Aeneid 1. 92-112

Friday: 4.10

    • Composition Assignment Due by 11:30am

 

Week 3

Monday: 4.13

    • Aeneid 1. 113-141; we also read 141-161 at sight. 

Tuesday: 4.14

    • Aeneid 1. 241-275
    • Appendix A-Dactylic Hexameter

Wednesday: 4.15

    • Aeneid 1. 276-296

Friday: 4.17

Exam 1

 

Week 4

Monday: 4.20

    • Aeneid 1.418-440, 496-505

Tuesday: 4.21

    • Aeneid 2. 1-40

Wednesday: 4.22

    • Aeneid 2. 41-56, 199-210

Friday: 4.24

    • Composition Assignment Due by 11:30am


Week 5

Monday: 4.27

    • Aeneid 2. 211-249

Tuesday: 4.28

    • Aeneid 2. 469-510 

Wednesday: 4.29

    • Aeneid 2. 486-517

Friday: 5.1

    • Composition Assignment Due by 11:30am


Week 6

Monday: 5.4

    • Aeneid 2. 518- 558

Tuesday: 5.5

    • Aeneid 2. 735-67

Wednesday: 5.6

    • Aeneid 2. 768-804

Friday: 5.8

    • Composition Assignment Due by 11:30am


Week 7

Monday: 5.11

    • Aeneid 4. 1-55

Tuesday: 5.12

    • Aeneid 4. 130-172

Wednesday: 5.13

    • Aeneid 4. 265-295

Friday: 5.15

Exam 2


Week 8

Monday: 5.18

    • Aeneid 4. 296-361 

Tuesday: 5.19

    • Aeneid 4. 331-355

Wednesday: 5.20

    • Aeneid 4. 393-415, 437-449

Friday: 5.22

    • Composition Assignment Due by 11:30am


Week 9

Monday: 5.25

    • Memorial Day (No Class)

Tuesday: 5.26

    • Aeneid 4. 642-671

             Wednesday: 5.27

    • Aeneid 6. 1-39

Friday: 5.29

    • Composition Assignment Due by 11:30am


Week 10

Monday: 6.1

    • Aeneid 6. 83-123

Tuesday: 6.2

    • Aeneid 6. 124-155

Wednesday: 6.3

    • Aeneid 6. 384-425

Friday: 6.5

    • Composition Assignment Due by 11:30am
 
Final Exam: 6.10
  • 2:30-4:20 pm THO 211
Catalog Description:
Selections from the first six books of the Aeneid; elementary exercises in Latin prose composition or metrics. Intended as third in a sequence of three. Recommended: one year of college-level Latin or equivalent. Offered: Sp.
GE Requirements Met:
Arts and Humanities (A&H)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
April 15, 2026 - 6:07 am