Explore UCD

UCD Home >

LAT20190

Academic Year 2024/2025

Cicero's Dream of Scipio (LAT20190)

Subject:
Latin
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Classics
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr George Prekas
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

In this module students will read (in the original Latin) the “Dream of Scipio” (Somnium Scipionis), the famous epilogue of Cicero’s political dialogue De Republica. The “Dream of Scipio” refers to a visionary experience recounted by the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus in his sleep. In this dream, Scipio Aemelianus is visited by his grandfather, Scipio Africanus, who takes him on a journey through the cosmos, imparting profound knowledge about the nature of the universe, the concept of the ideal state and ruler, the importance of virtue, and the immortality of the soul. Students will be invited to assess the literary qualities of the work, discuss its political ideas and philosophical underpinnings, as well as evaluate it as a source against the backdrop of Late Roman Republican culture.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

- translate the set text, thereby demonstrating a strong knowledge of Latin grammar, syntax and vocabulary;
- analyse the “Dream” within the framework of the overall dialogue of the De Republica;
- contextualise the text within the political and cultural conditions of the Late Roman Republic;
- exhibit a thorough understanding of the historical background presented within the text;
- evaluate the literary, philosophical, and political qualities the “Dream” and its long-lasting influence on Western thought;

Indicative Module Content:

This module is language intensive, focused on Latin-to-English translation of unadapted passages of Cicero. Students should expect to read the entire text (De Rep. 6.9-29).

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort TypeHours
Specified Learning Activities

36

Autonomous Student Learning

46

Tutorial

18

Total

100


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Students will prepare for each class by reading assigned passages of text and identifying issues of linguistic and syntactical difficulty. In class, students will read and translate the text together and resolve whatever points of difficulty have arisen. Classes will focus on translating Latin into accurate and idiomatic English, as well as discussing and evaluating points of literary, historical, and cultural interest.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive individual written feedback on class tests (translation and commentary) and essay within 20 working days of submission. Students are welcome to arrange a meeting with the module coordinator to discuss their grade and feedback.

Powell, J. (1990), Cicero: On Friendship & The Dream of Scipio, Warminster. This is the assigned text, and should be available in the campus bookshop.
--
Asmis, E. (2004), “The state as a partnership: Cicero's definition of res publica in his work On the state,” History of Political Thought 25: 569–599.

Atkins, J. W. (2013), Cicero on Politics and the Limits of Reason: The Republic and Laws, Cambridge (esp. the chapter “The Dream of Scipio and the science of politics”, pp. 47–79).

Coleman-Norton, P. R. (1950), “Cicero and the Music of the Spheres”, The Classical Journal 45: 237–241.

Gallagher, R. L. (2001). “Metaphor in Cicero’s De Re Publica”, The Classical Quarterly 51: 509–519.

Luck, G. (1956). “Studia Divina in Vita Humana: On Cicero’s “Dream of Scipio” and Its Place in Graeco-Roman Philosophy”, The Harvard Theological Review 49: 207–218.

Márquez, X. (2011), “Cicero and the stability of states”, History of Political Thought, 32: 397–423.

McConnell, S. (2017). “Magnitudo Animi and Cosmic Politics in Cicero’s De Re Publica”, The Classical Journal 113: 45–70.

Nicgorski, W. (2022), “Cicero’s republicanism”, in Atkins, J. W. & Bénatouïl, T. (Eds), The Cambridge companion to Cicero’s philosophy. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Pr., 215–230.

Schofield, M. (1995), “Cicero's definition of res publica”, in Powell, G. F. (Ed.), Cicero the philosopher: twelve papers. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Pr., 63–83.

Stahl, W. H. (Ed.). (1952), Commentary on the Dream of Scipio. New York: Columbia Univ. Pr..

Stevens, J. (2006), “The Imagery of Cicero's Somnium Scipionis”, in Deroux, C. (ed.), Collection Latomus 301. Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History XIII, 155–65.

Stevenson, T. (2005), “Readings of Scipio’s Dictatorship in Cicero’s De Re Publica (6.12)”, The Classical Quarterly 55: 140–152.

Woolf, R. (2015), Cicero: the philosophy of a Roman sceptic. London; New York: Routledge (esp. the chapter “The best form of government”, pp. 93–124).

Zetzel, J. (Ed.). (1995). De re publica: selections. Cambridge: Cambridge University Pr..

- (Ed.). (1999). Cicero: On the commonwealth; and On the laws. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Pr..

- (2013), “Political Philosophy” in Steel, C. (Ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Cicero. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Pr., 181–195.

- (2022). The lost Republic: Cicero’s De oratore and De re publica. New York: Oxford University Pr.


Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.