Classics is the study of the languages, culture, history, and thought of the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. It is truly one of the most varied and interdisciplinary of all subjects. No matter where your passion lies, Classics has something for you. We believe that graduates who have studied Latin should be able to approach a Latin text without the aid of a translation or dictionary in order to sight read and produce a viable translation. Taft graduates often go on to study Classics at the college or university level.
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Classics scholars develop the analytical skills needed to understand ancient languages and engage in disciplines such as linguistics and textual criticism. During the first two years of Latin study, students develop a thorough knowledge of English and Latin grammar, learn to read Latin passages, and discover the Latin derivations of many English words. Emphasis is also placed on the historical context of chosen passages and the political landscape at the end of the Republic to the start of the Principate. The lives and works of authors such as Virgil, Catullus, and Cicero are also emphasized in a larger social context of ancient Rome.
As students progress through the third and fourth years of Classics study, emphasis shifts to reading authentic Latin texts, including Pliny, Horace, Caesar, Virgil, and Suetonius. Students also take the National Latin Exam every March.
If you are interested in learning more about the Classics Department at Taft, please email Lisa Parente, World Language Department Head.
To learn about a yearlong Latin program in Italy for upper mids and seniors, visit School Year Abroad.