This course offers a consolidation of Latin grammar, syntax, and vocabulary through daily assigned readings and optional English-Latin written assignments. It assumes a solid foundation in Latin morphology, syntax, and core vocabulary. Students with weaknesses in these areas must take responsibility for any additional work they deem necessary. Be advised that in class we will work only from the Latin, and students should not prepare a written translation for use in class. More benefit and greater proficiency is gained from engaging the Latin anew in the classroom after careful study at home. There is no required text for this course, and all reading will be distributed in photocopy. Possible authors and texts include: Boethius, Sedulius, Fulbert of Chartres, Odilo of Cluny, Goscelin of Saint-Bertin, John of Salisbury, Joseph of Exeter, Peter of Blois, Gervaise of Tilbury, Petrarch, John Gower, and assorted legal and ecclesiastical documents, among others.

The goal of this course is to develop the advanced reading and comprehension skills necessary to pass the Level Two Medieval Latin Examination. To that end, the course will be structured around three different types of reading assignments: (1) daily assigned passages for study and preparation (with grammar and dictionary) designed to increase students' command of Medieval Latin syntax and grammar; (2) weekly re-reading (without dictionary or grammar) of assigned passages followed by an in-class, written translation—drawn from the same—designed to enable students to consolidate and commit to memory common syntactic structures and vocabulary; and (3) weekly assigned long passages (8–10 pages) of moderate-level, narrative Latin designed to build students' proficiency, speed, and confidence.

I am happy to meet with students outside of class to answer qustions and to assign and check supplementary exercises, if desired. On Mondays and Wednesdays I will be available before class (from 10:00 to 10:30); on Tuesdays and Thursdays, after class (from 12:00 to 12:30). 

Below you will find a continuously updated course schedule. As we progress through the course, I will post the introductions to the readings, answers to all written assignments, and any additional reference material that may prove useful. I will not, however, make a habit of posting the readings themselves. Please note that students who would benefit from a review of basic morphology and syntax may find useful my summaries of the verbal system (present and perfect), nouns and adjectives, relatives, and pronouns. Additional remedial material can be found on my Basic Latin page. Students are strongly encouraged to read and familiarize themselves with A.G. Rigg's Traditional Grammatical Terminology: Latin.

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