Latin Set Book
Course dates: Wednesday 13 January - Wednesday 24 March 2027
Class timetable: 10 sessions (View class timetable for Wednesday 13 January 2027 to Wednesday 24 March 2027)
Timetable data for Wednesday 13 January 2027 to Wednesday 24 March 2027
| Day of class | Date of class | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 13-Jan-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 20-Jan-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 27-Jan-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 03-Feb-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 10-Feb-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 17-Feb-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 24-Feb-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 10-Mar-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 17-Mar-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 24-Mar-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
Location: Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Fees: £355.00
RegisterCourse Overview
This Latin Set Book short course explores the work of Apuleius (c. 124 – after 170 CE). A Latin author of marvellous ingenuity, his highly entertaining prose plays with familiar elements of earlier Latin and Greek literature and offers suggestive insights into Roman imperial culture in the second century CE. Born in the Roman province of Numidia, he may have spoken Punic as his first language. He was educated in philosophy (particularly the work of Plato) in Athens and celebrated as an orator.
We will read selections from Apuleius’ Metamorphoses (including all of Book 1), as well as sampling the speech he gave in his own defence when on trial for seducing a rich widow through the use of magic arts (his Apology).
The Metamorphoses, also known as The Golden Ass, centres around the figure of the narrator Lucius who is turned into an ass in Book 3 and goes on to have a series of improbable adventures, culminating in an experience of divine revelation. His experiences also serve as a frame for a large number of inset stories (including that of Cupid and Psyche, the longest inset narrative). Apuleius is admired for his idiosyncratic and elaborate prose style, as well as his beguiling story-telling.
The classes and coursework involve close analysis of the text from a linguistic, literary, historical and cultural point of view. You will be expected to prepare portions of the text in advance and then discuss the major issues emerging in class. The course will enable you to:
- become experienced in reading Apuleius’ prose and become acquainted with his distinctive idiom
- understand and explore composition, character creation, narratological devices, historical background, gender, intertextuality
- place Apuleius’ writing in the context of larger literary, cultural and historical developments.
Teaching on this course is stimulating, with plenty of student participation and interpretation. We will translate portions of the texts together, as well as discussing language, context and composition.
As a student on this course, you will study alongside Birkbeck students enrolled on one of our undergraduate or postgraduate courses, giving you the opportunity to network with a range of Birkbeck current students whilst you learn.
The course will be taught by Professor Catharine Edwards, who is also the contact for queries about entry requirements.
This course is non-credit bearing, so carries no credit points.
Fees
Students are charged a tuition fee for each short course on registering. Please view details for this course, including dates, location and fees at the top of this page. Short course fees may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see our Fees Policy.
Birkbeck's Lifelong Learning Guarantee
If you've studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.
Entry Requirements
This short course is suitable for anyone interested in studying Latin but not seeking formal qualifications in the language. It involves close study of a Classical Latin text in the original, so it requires substantial prior experience in Latin, but we are flexible with precise qualifications and experience. Please contact Professor Catharine Edwards for further details
How to Register
You register directly onto the classes you would like to take. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis - so register early.
If you want to take more than one short course, you can select each one separately and then register onto them together via our online application portal. There is usually no formal selection process, although some modules may have prerequisites and/or other requirements, which will be specified where relevant.