Module manager: Dr Regine May
Email: R.May@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The Aeneid is an epic tale of adventure, heroism, love, loss, divinity, family, and finding a new home. Vergil’s innovative work blends politics and poetry, offering the Romans an alternative origin story for the Eternal City and the empire it governed. The work had a huge impact on later literature too, with the poem’s themes being reflected in, for example, modern science fiction and high fantasy narratives. Suitable for Level 2 students with a basic knowledge of Classical literature; text taught in English translation. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
This module offers the student the opportunity to read Vergil's Roman epic both as a whole and in depth. They will also have opportunities to explore Vergil's influence from and reaction to the Greek epic tradition; the poem as part of the cultural programme and political ideology of Augustus; literary themes such as characterisation, heroism, the role of the gods and the depiction of human struggle; and antiquarianism and the construction of the Roman past, through discussions in lectures and seminars, and through independent study. This module is designed to allow students to gain an understanding of the literary conventions of Roman epic poetry through close reading of the texts and through discussions in lectures and seminars. Reading, discussing, and debating sections of the text and the impact of various thematic topics will give students the opportunity to experience the poetic, philosophical, cultural, and political dimensions of this poem, to understand its wider and enduring literary impact, and to gain an appreciation of the poetic beauty of the work.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Identify and describe the conventions and practices of Roman epic poetry through textual analysis and evaluation of Vergil’s Aeneid.
2. Describe and analyse the major issues relating to Vergil's Aeneid, from literary, cultural, socio-political, and ancient religious / philosophical perspectives, drawing on knowledge gained from reading from a set reading list.
3. Discuss, analyse, and debate the main schools of thought within the scholarship on Vergil’s work.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Discuss and debate complex and nuanced arguments and ideas.
5. Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will have the opportunity to receive formative feedback during module contact hours, both at lectures via in-class exercises and group discussion, and especially in seminar classes via feedback on contributions to class activities and formative presentations linked with the module coursework. Several seminars will support preparatory work for the coursework, for discussion with the seminar tutor and the group. These will give students a chance to explore what the module assessment requires, to practice and receive feedback on work which should improve their ability to complete the module assessments, and to gain a good sense of their progress on the module and on their preparatory work for the coursework well in advance of when it is due. Students will also be encouraged to book a one-to-one meeting to discuss their work on the module and formative feedback they have received to date with the module tutor(s) in greater detail. Further opportunities are as follows:
- in-lecture ‘minute papers’, assessing impact of said lecture;
- post-it notes in-session for instant, anonymous feedback;
- via a mid-term informal questionnaire, where students can self-assess their progress and performance halfway through the course;
- through the detailed, formal module questionnaire at the close of the module.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Coursework | Assignment | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 09/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team