Lecturer: Professor Jon Hall
A 'new man' in Roman politics, Marcus Tullius Cicero won fame and respect with the power of his oratory. He lived during a period of tremendous political crises for Rome, which ultimately led to the death of the Republic and the death of Cicero himself. This paper examines several forensic speeches of Cicero, with a view to understanding their rhetorical finess as well as exploring their historical context.
Internal Assessment
50%
Details
Cicero’s speeches, their persuasive techniques, and the role of oratory in Roman society.
A 'new man' in Roman politics, Marcus Tullius Cicero made his name as an advocate in the Roman law courts. His defence speeches on behalf of politicians accused of murder and bribery give us fascinating insights into the violence and corruption of ancient Rome, as well as Cicero's oratorical skill as a lawyer.
| Paper title | Cicero and Roman Oratory |
|---|---|
| Paper code | CLAS437 |
| Subject | Classical Studies |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,174.57 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 72 300-level CLAS, GREK or LATN points
- Restriction
- CLAS 337
- Notes
- Students who have not passed the normal prerequisite may be admitted with approval from the Head of Department.
- Contact
- classics@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- Teaching staff
- Lecturer: Professor Jon Hall
- Paper Structure
- Internal Assessment 50%
- Textbooks
- Cicero Defence Speeches trans. D.H. Berry (Oxford UP, 2008)
Cicero Political Speeches trans. D.H. Berry (Oxford UP, 2006)
Course Reader - Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will have:
- A knowledge of ten of Cicero's speeches
- An understanding of the political violence and corruption that lies behind these speeches
- The ability to analyse the persuasive strategies in Cicero's speeches
- The skills of effective written communication
