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Detailed Assignment for Week 3 (15-19 Jan.)

NB: Monday, 1/15 is MLK Day, so we meet only once this week, on Wednesday, 1/17

Read

ā˜žBook 13.15-17 (Latin); 18-24 (Woodman); 25 (Latin); 26-43 (Woodman); 44-46 (Latin); 47-58 (Woodman)

NB: It is unlikely that we'll be able to work through all the Latin in our one class meeting this week, so if there are specific sections you have questions about or want to make sure we cover, please come prepared to ask.  

Ponderanda

  • It has been observed that in the Neronian books in particular, Tacitus seems sensitive to 'mythic' or 'mythical' themes in Nero's behavior.  Do you perceive any such themes in the reading for this week? If so, where? 
  • At 13.19.3 Tacitus imputes to Agrippina a wish to raise up Rubellius Plautus for 'revolutionary purposes' (ad res novas). Although this of course fails, speculate for a moment about what T. means by this.  Had A. succeeded, that is, what would res novae have looked like?  And is (on the basis of your view) Tacitus' imputation of this motive realistic or fanciful, i.e., plausible or fabricated?  (This goes to the question of T.'s efforts to uncover motive for his characters and events.)
  • Inversion of norms is characteristic of Tacitus' Nero.  Be on the lookout for exx. of this as you read, in the reading for this week (see Legenda ad libitum for one hint) and beyond.

Legenda ad libitum

  • We are going to encounter for the first time in these chapters Tacitus' deployment of the so-called 'urbs capta motif'.  This has a long history in ancient literature, and this will not be the last time we encounter it in the Neronian books.  If you're interested, a good overview of the motif may be found in a classic article by G.M. Paul, 'Urbs Capta: Sketch of an Ancient Literary Motif,' Phoenix 36.2 (1982) 144-155.  Available through JSTOR via UW Libraries.  Not specifically about Tacitus, though he (and the passage you're reading) receives mention.