Module manager: Regine May
Email: r.may@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
| CLAS2925 | The Ancient Novel |
CLAS3370 CLAS3430
This module is approved as a discovery module
The module introduces students to the Greek and Latin novels of the imperial period from the first to the fifth century AD. Students will encounter examples of both Greek and Latin novels and a selection of related fictional texts. The module aims to promote understanding of the nature of the ancient novel as a distinct literary genre and the origins of the novel in Western literature. The novels are set into their historical and cultural context of Greek and Latin authors writing under the Roman empire, including some literary-historical, political, religious, philosophical, social and intertextual perspectives. While the Greek novels portray idealised love stories set in the heroic past, the Latin novels satirise contemporary aspirations of the newly rich and their literary and social aspirations. The heroes of the Greek novels are aristocratic couples, the antiheroes of the Latin texts move through lower-class milieus filled with socially climbing characters or magic adventures. Students will study the narrative techniques of the novels, a variety of contemporary approaches to the ancient novels and related fiction, including the various literary-historical, political, religious, philosophical, social and intertextual perspectives which shed light on the ancient novels. Lectures will provide overviews over specific texts and genres as a whole, and seminars will provide students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to specific case studies. 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.
Students will be able to demonstrate a detailed understanding and appreciation of the ancient Greek and Latin novels, related ancient fiction, and their cultural, literary, religious, social, historical and literary context. They will examine the development of the Greek and Latin novel as a literary genre in the imperial period from the first century to the fifth century AD, and assess the relationship of the ‘novel’ genre within the development of literature in the early Roman empire; Students will study the texts closely and effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms. They will assess the importance of the ancient novel for the development of the currently most important literary genre, the modern novel
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject
1 analyse a selection of Greek and Latin novels and related fictional texts, demonstrating appropriate knowledge of their historical, cultural, religious, social and literary background, including key scholarship on each author.
2 evaluate the nature of the ancient novel as a literary genre, and the narrative techniques used by selected authors.
3 apply a variety of contemporary approaches to the study of the ancient novel, including theories on ancient sexuality and gender, narratology and discussion of intertextuality between the novels and other ancient genres, and appreciate the nuances and limitations of knowledge in the field.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4 critically employ various forms of primary evidence and relate them to each other and their historical and cultural and literary context, in order to present a coherent and sustained argument.
5 debate and comment on complex and nuanced arguments and aspects of contemporary scholarship on the ancient novel.
6 engage critically with a range of modern approaches to literary and cultural theories.
7 employ effective written communication skills to present complex arguments.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Seminar | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Private study hours | 174 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 26 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
There are ongoing opportunities for formative feedback through participation in seminars. There will be a seminar session dedicated to preparing each of the assessment. Students are also given the opportunity to contact tutors for face-to-face meetings, for example in office hours. Feedback from the first coursework will afford a formal opportunity to monitor student progress.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Coursework | Written 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: 25/04/2025
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