RLW: Overview

Image: Cicero sits at a writing desk composing a letter. Roman Letter Writers Overview

Some of the most important information we have about Rome and its people comes not from intricate texts on history or from epic poems, but rather from the regular interactions between people, which were preserved. The most common form of interaction was an epistula (letter). Some famous Romans wrote letters that they knew would be published - in fact, they wrote them to get them published, but we also have letters that were saved by industrious friends and colleagues and later collected and published. These letters between friends give us an intimate look inside of Roman life and the inner workings of Roman politics. In this module we will explore letters, both translated and in Latin, that will help us gain insight into the daily life and politics of Romans. Two authors will be included in our module: Pliny the Younger and Marcus Tullius Cicero. The image depicts Cicero working on an epistula - this woodcut appeared in a 1547 edition of Cicero's Epistulae ad familiares (Letters to his friends) produced by Hieronymus Scotus.

 Download: Study Guide

Please download the Roman Letter Writers Study Guide Links to an external site.. The study guide follows the module in order and should be viewed at first as a note-taking document, then later, as a review file.

Additionally, please download and begin reading the Translated Collection of Roman Letters Links to an external site.. This will be our main resource in gathering basic information about the structure, form and function of Roman letters. Be sure to contact your instructor for any additional help with the content.

Essential Questions

  1. How do I increase my knowledge of Latin vocabulary?
  2. What is a cum clause and how is it used.
  3. Who was Pliny the Younger?
  4. What sorts of topics did Romans discuss in their letters?
  5. What insights can we gain about Roman life and politics by reading letters?
  6. How do I read and translate authentic Latin passages from Pliny and Cicero?

Key Terms

  1. Subjunctive Mood - a mood used to describe possibility, and also frequently used in dependent clauses
  2. Independent Clause - this type of clause can be used alone to form a complete sentence, but can also be used with other clauses
  3. Dependent Clause - this type of clause requires another clause to form a complete sentence - also known as a subordinate clause
  4. Cum clause - a set of clauses introduced by the word cum, which can express circumstance (when), cause (since) or concession (although).
  5. Epistula - the Roman word for letter (correspondence)

ALL RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.