Greek and Roman Epic Poetry Would Achilles and Hector have risked their lives and sacred honor had they understood human life and the Olympian gods as Homer portrays them in the Iliad? Why do those gods decide to withdraw from men altogether following the Trojan War, and why is Odysseus the man Athena chooses to help her carry out that project? And why, according to the Roman poet Vergil, do these gods command Aeneas, a defeated Trojan, to found an Italian town that will ultimately conquer the Greek cities that conquered Troy, replacing the Greek polis with a universal empire that will end all wars of human freedom? Through close study of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and Vergil's Aeneid, we explore how the epic tradition helped shape Greece and Rome, and define their contributions to European civilization.

Readings in Latin Literature I Readings in major authors.

Literature of the Roman Empire In this course we will investigate the literature, culture, and history of the Roman Empire, focusing on how Romans sought, often at the cost of their own lives, to define the role and powers of the emperor and their place as subjects to this new, autocratic power.  Texts we will read include: epic (Lucan), tragedy (Seneca), history (Tacitus), biography (Suetonius), prose fiction (Petronius), as well as early Christian literature.  As we read we will seek to answer questions about the nature of freedom and empire, what is gained and lost by replacing a republican with an autocratic political system, and whether literature in this period can offer an accurate reflection of reality, function as an instrument of change and protest, or of fearful praise and flattery.  3 hrs lect. 1 hr. disc.

Advanced Readings in Latin IV: Flavian Literature Readings in major authors. 3 hrs lect.

History of Classical Literature  A comprehensive overview of the major literary, historical, and philosophical works of Greece and Rome. Greek authors studied include Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Herodotus, Aristophanes, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle. Roman authors include Lucretius, Cicero, Livy, Vergil, Petronius, and Tacitus. Required of senior majors in Classics/Classical Studies (see CLAS 0701 below) and open to all interested students with some background in Greek and Roman literature, history, or philosophy.

History of Classical Literature  A comprehensive overview of the major literary, historical, and philosophical works of Greece and Rome. Greek authors studied include Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Herodotus, Aristophanes, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle. Roman authors include Lucretius, Cicero, Livy, Vergil, Petronius, and Tacitus. Required of senior majors in Classics/Classical Studies and open to all interested students with some background in Greek and Roman literature, history, or philosophy.

History of Classical Literature  A comprehensive overview of the major literary, historical, and philosophical works of Greece and Rome. Greek authors studied include Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Herodotus, Aristophanes, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle. Roman authors include Lucretius, Cicero, Livy, Vergil, Petronius, and Tacitus. Required of senior majors in Classics/Classical Studies (see CLAS 0701) and open to all interested students with some background in Greek and Roman literature, history, or philosophy.

Augustus and the World of Rome In 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated. Within two months his adoptive son, Augustus, still in his teens, traveled to Rome, soon extorted the highest office of the Roman Republic, and after 13 years of civil war became the state's first emperor. The resulting "Augustan Age" (31 B.C. to A.D. 14) produced a period of political change and cultural achievement unparalleled in Rome's long history. In this course we will examine the literature, art, history, and politics of this era, evaluate the nature of Augustus's accomplishments, and explore the Roman world. Readings include: Augustus, Vergil, Suetonius, and I, Claudius.

Advanced Readings in Latin II Readings in major authors. . Students should have had some formal study of Latin and should consult with the instructor during the first week of classes to determine whether or not the class is at the appropriate level.

Randall Ganiban

Reviews and ratings for Randall Ganiban at Middlebury College.Randall Ganiban teaches Greek and Roman Epic Poetry, Readings in Latin Literature I, Literature of the Roman Empire and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Randall Ganiban good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I took it as a CW class and it's so worth it. I'd say my writing has improved a lot thanks to this class. Professor Ganiban was very caring, and he was lenient with the due dates of our papers and assignments. Personally, I've had some interest in ancient Rome, and I learned a lot from this class, and it also reinforced what I already knew. Highly recommended. 

I like Ganiban, he is very enthuastic and a nice professor. I took the class CW, so it was essay heavy but Ganiban was pretty accomodating and tried to shift dates to better help the students. Also, the readings we did for the CW class were actually helpful and helped improve my writing. The regular class is reading heavy and the lectures feel long and boring, especially because it was around afternoon. 

Ganniban clearly loves the material. This class gives you a much better understanding of Rome, especially the transition of the Roman Empire to the Roman Republic through literature. Papers and Exams are challenging but graded fairly. Exams involve passage identification and a complete analysis of the passage.