Penobscot School: Reading Latin

READING LATIN

Open to all, whether new or not to the Latin language, Reading Latin concentrates on the skills needed to comprehend the grammar and syntax of Latin sentences simple and complex. Although Latin is a "dead" language, it lives on today as a unique linguistic laboratory for the stay-still study of many features found in the Romance languages, in English, and in the history of language generally. While most of the emphasis in the course falls on prose, some attention is given to the eccentricities and scansion of Latin poetry, especially that of Virgil and of Horace. The goal of the course is to help students to reach the point where they can read Latin reasonably well with the aid of a Latin dictionary and a few pages summarizing the major points of the language's grammar and syntax. No rote-recitation, toga-wearing, grape-stomping, gerund-grinding, or English-to-Latin monkwork is required. All materials are supplied by the instructor.

14 Thursdays, 5:30 - 7pm, starts January 25
Course Fee: $240.
Textbook: TBA
Instructor: Charles Packard
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Charles Packard, who holds degrees in Latin from Bowdoin and Harvard, teaches Latin at the Watershed Community School. A published translator of Latin, he is currently nearing completion of a rhymed English verse translation of Erasmus's 1510 Latin prose masterpiece, "The Praise of Folly." Email Charles at cbpackard@att.net