Augustine’s Confessions is one of the outstanding works of Latin and global literature. At once an autobiography, a prayer, a philosophical essay, and a commentary on the Bible, the Confessions tells the story of the life and Christian conversion of Augustine of Hippo. The work is both an exemplary work of late antique Latin prose and an anticipation of medieval and modern literary accounts of the self. The text explores profound issues: the nature of good and evil, the relationship between humanity and the divine, the significance of religious conversion; it also is a remarkable historical window into the religious and intellectual culture of the late fourth century CE. In this class, we will read and discuss the whole book in English, but most of our time will be devoted to reading Books 5 to 9 in Latin, as well as short selections from the Latin Christian Bible and from the Latin Life of St. Antony. In our close study of the Latin, we will play particular attention to both Augustine’s classical rhetoric and his use of biblical language. 

Course requirements will be regular quizzes, a final, and two papers (one short, one longer). 
Prior study of Latin is expected, but no knowledge of late antiquity or early Christianity will be assumed. This class will welcome all perspectives.