Cambridge Latin Course
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The Cambridge Latin Course (CLC) is a series of textbooks published by Cambridge University Press, used to teach Latin to secondary school students. First published in 1970, the series is now in its fifth edition, and has sold over 3.5 million copies[1]. It has reached high status in the UK, being the most successful Latin course in the country[2] and used by 80% of Latin-teaching schools[1].
Using the language theories of Noam Chomsky, the textbook's authors employ a reading method that programmatically stresses inductive language learning as opposed to more traditional deductive, or prescriptive, methods of teaching Latin (i.e. "grammar and translation"). In the belief that learning a language is different from learning "about the language," the CLC stresses reading for comprehension rather than for translation.
The books chronicle the adventures of the Pompeiian citizen Quintus Caecilius Iucundus and a Roman senator Gaius Salvius Liberalis in a Latin narrative. The aim of the course is to introduce students to Latin vocabulary, grammar and aspects of Roman civilization and culture.
The British edition consists of five books, while the North American edition consists of four units. This is because Unit 3 of the North American edition contains the material from Books III and IV of the British edition. The first half of Unit 4 includes the material from Book V, while the second half consists of selections from original Latin texts.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
[edit] Book I
The first book actually has very little to do with Quintus, mainly because at the time he is just a boy; instead it is more a tale of his father Caecilius's adventures in Pompeii from the reign of Nero to that of Vespasian. Sometimes the book deviates, to talk about Caecilius's two slaves, Grumio and Clemens, and their frequent humorous mishaps. The book ends when Mount Vesuvius erupts, and Caecilius is killed in Pompeii. However, the book leaves the reader wondering whether Quintus survived.
[edit] Book II
The beginning of the second book is set in Roman Britain near Fishbourne Roman Palace under Agricola, where Quintus meets Salvius and King Cogidubnus. The books starts off by meeting a new family, a Roman aristocrat, Salvius, who is a successful lawyer and senator in Rome. His family includes his wife, Rufilla, and many slaves, some of whom are Britons, others foreign. In the second half of the book, Quintus tells King Cogidubnus about his journey to Alexandria, where Quintus was reunited with Clemens, and met Barbillus.
[edit] Book III
The third book picks up in the Roman province of Britain. Quintus distances himself from the scheming Salvius, whose plot to kill King Cogidubnus is thwarted by Quintus. When Cogidubnus eventually dies in captivity, Salvius writes a false will for him.
[edit] Book IV
In the fourth textbook, the setting moves to Rome, a few years before the events in Britain. Quintus is absent, but Salvius, his ally Haterius, and several other Roman aristocrats, as well as some ordinary citizens (plebs), star. Salvius coordinates the downfall of Paris, a famous pantomime actor and Domitia, the emperor's wife, whose affair was exposed.
[edit] Book V
The final book is set in Rome, after Agricola has successfully conquered Scotland. We are introduced to various acquitances of the emperor, including Glabrio, an adviser to the emperor. Glabrio accuses Salvius of the forgery of Cogidubnus' will, while Domitia accuses him of plotting her exile. Quintus is present at Salvius' trial. Salvius is convicted and sentenced.
[edit] Recurring characters
- Quintus Caecilius Iucundus, wealthy son of a banker.
- Lucius Caecilius Iucundus, banker, father of Quintus, usually referred to as Caecilius.
- Metella, Caecilius' wife, Quintus' mother.
- Grumio, their adventurous cook.
- Poppaea, Grumio's lover, also a slave, appeared to have a short fling with Clemens at one time
- Lucrio, Poppaea's elderly master
- Clemens, a loyal, clever slave whom Quintus frees later. He then sets up a glassware shop in Alexandria
- Cerberus, the Iucundus family dog
- Melissa, a very beautiful slave girl bought by Caecilius. It is sporadically suggested that she has some relationship with Clemens.
- Syphax, a slave trader, presumably from the Middle East.
- Felix, a former slave of Caecilius, saved infant Quintus from a robber
- Marcus, Roman citizen, brother of Quartus
- Quartus, Roman Citizen, brother of Marcus
- Sulla, scribe who finds himself in the middle of a feud between Marcus and Quartus
- Julius, friend of Caecilius
- Gaius Salvius Liberalis, a wealthy, devious senator
- Rufilla, Salvius's wife, relative of Quintus
- Bregans, a lazy British slave
- Loquax, slave known for singing
- Anti-Loquax, twin of Loquax, known for dancing
- Volubilis, Egyptian cook, slave of Salvius
- Varica, Salvius' slave manager
- Philus, learned slave of Salvius
- Domitillia, deceptive slavegirl of Rufilla
- Barbillus, a wealthy Alexandrian
- Rufus, Barbillus' son
- Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, King of the Regnenses tribe in Britain, friend of Salvius
- Belimicus, a greedy Briton, chief of the Cantiaci and rival of Dumnorix
- Dumnorix, an honest Briton, chief of the Regnenses and rival of Belimicus
- Lucius Marcius Memor, a lazy, greedy, obese haruspex (soothsayer)
- Cephalus, Memor's assistant
- Modestus, a simple, clumsy, Roman soldier stationed in Britain
- Strythio, a friend and fellow soldier of Modestus
- Vilbia, native Briton, admirer of Modestus
- Q. Haterius Latronianus, friend and client of Salvius, an architect in Rome
- Euphrosyne, a Greek philosopher
- Paris, a pantomime actor
- Myropnous, a dwarf pipe player, friend of Paris
- Domitian, emperor of Rome
- Domitia, his wife, in an affair with Paris
- Epaphroditus, a freedman of the emperor
- Manius Acilius Glabrio, aristocrat
- Gaius Helvidius Lupus, his friend
- Martial, a famous poet
- Sparsus, senator
- Clemens, a relative of the emperor
- Flavia, his wife
- Polla, their daughter, in love with Helvidius but betrothed to Sparsus
- Titus, their son, made heir to the emperor
- Publius, their other son, also made heir to the emperor
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Minimus - Latin text for younger students from same publisher
