CL3AB: Ancient Biography

Module code: CL3AB

Module provider: Classics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Timothy Duff, email: t.e.duff@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is about biographical texts written in antiquity, with a particular focus on Plutarch’s Parallel Lives.

The career or careers of one or more major political figures (such as Alcibiades, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and/or others) are used as case-studies. Themes which we will examine include the structure and aims of ancient biographical writings; the relation of ancient biographical writing to oratory and historiography; concepts of objectivity and truth; moralism in ancient biography and the role of comparison; the relationship of chronological narrative to thematically organised material; and ancient views on education, character, the emotions, and what made a person admirable.

Students who take this module will enhance their ability to read texts closely. They will gain an understanding of ancient biographical writing and related genres and especially of Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, and of one or more key historical figures from antiquity and the evidence on which our knowledge of them is based.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the ancient genre of biography and discuss ancient concepts of it
2. Discuss and evaluate the content, structure and purpose of selected biographical texts, including Plutarch's Parallel Lives
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the literary evidence for selected historical figures

Module content

This module studies the ancient genre of biography, from its origins in historiographical and encomiastic texts through to its developed form in later writers, including Plutarch. The careers of one or more major political figures are used as case studies and are examined through their presentation in Plutarch and other writers, such as Xenophon, Thucydides, Plato, Suetonius, and/or Tacitus. Themes which we will examine include the importance of genre in approaching texts; the structure and aims of ancient biographical writings; the relation of ancient biographical writing to oratory and historiography; concepts of objectivity and truth; moralism in ancient biography; the role of comparison, the relationship of chronological narrative to thematically organised material; and ancient views on education, character, the emotions, and what made a person great. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of Plutarch’s Parallel Lives. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Two hours a week, consisting of either lectures or seminars. There are set texts, which must be read by all students before or during the relevant section of the module. Seminars also require preparatory reading by all students.

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs