Using Authentic Latin Poetry in Lower Level Language Classes

by Mary English, Montclair State University
Original Text © 2002 Mary English. All rights reserved.

English provides ten “techniques” for helping first and second year Latin students read Latin poetry. The techniques include practical advice on the use of the poems of Martial, Catullus, and Ovid with students who are new to the study of Latin. To bolster her guidance, English provides actual Latin poems and an annotated bibliography of resources educators can use to put her techniques to practice.

• INTRODUCTION
• TECHNIQUE #1: Expose Students to Authentic Latin Poetry As Soon As Possible
• TECHNIQUE #2: In the Beginning, Gloss Completely the Difficult Grammatical Constructions
• TECHNIQUE #3: Use Very Short Latin Poems to Introduce New Grammatical Constructions
• TECHNIQUE #4: Use Groups of Thematically Related Poems to Supplement Lessons on Roman Culture
• TECHNIQUE #5: Rewrite Difficult Poems into Latin Prose
• TECHNIQUE #6: Expose Students to a Variety of Latin Meters
• TECHNIQUE #7: Reinforce Metrical Concepts by Allowing Students to Experiment with Basic Verse Composition Exercises
• TECHNIQUE #8: Plan Some Graded Exercise Where Students Can Perform Memorized Latin Poems
• TECHNIQUE #9: Students Can Benefit Immensely from Reading Good English Translations of Latin Poems
• TECHNIQUE #10: Leave 2-3 Classes for Longer Poems
• SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING