Reading Primary Latin and Greek WorkS

You open your Latin textbook to page 265.

You look over the sentence in the first exercise: Puella et Puer ad scholam currunt ut multa discant.

You answer on your notebook page: The girl and the boy run towards the school in order to learn many things.

While this may be enough to understand the mechanism of a purpose clause in Latin, it is not the most effective thing to do in order to expand your understanding of the Latin language. This concept also applies to Greek. Instead, I would recommend reading certain primary Latin or Greek sources after understanding the basics in order to branch out your knowledge in the classics. Here are some reasons why picking up for example Cicero’s De Amicitia or Plato’s Symposium might be a great idea.

1) Unlocking Ancient Wisdom

When reading actual pieces of literature such as Cicero’s speeches against Verres, you can constructively understand Cicero’s logic and the way how he is able to argue. With this, you have the ability to draw parallels with current and past times. Classics should not only be able to read Latin, but it should be about connecting the present and the past to clear up the future.

2) Deepening Language Understanding

It is obvious that when you read actual Latin you learn actual Latin. Learning from textbooks is a great way to start, but you learn the most from reading actual pieces of literature. Take English as an example. If you are not a primary English speaker, then you will use a textbook to understand the basics of the language. However, the best way to adapt is by speaking and reading the language in a modern sense. This translates back to Latin as reading actual texts allows you to adapt to a certain author and a certain style of Latin.

3) Insights into Historical/Mythological Context

If you are in AP Latin, you can relate to this concept. In the Aeneid and De Bello Gallico, there are many examples of mythological references and historical references. The true idea of reading Latin is understanding the classics. When you read actual sources of Latin, you also learn different ideas such as history, mythology, and literature. You need to understand that reading Livy will give you a great historical context. Most Greek and Roman history and mythology are actually written in Greek and Latin.

However, picking up your first ancient work may be difficult as this transition is a major jump. Below are some tips that I have found useful.

1) Try to Use a Guided Book

There are some books online that have notes in them to guide the reader. This will have vocabulary based on the English context, and it will outline the grammar and other historical and/or mythological contexts.

2) Ask a Friend

Translating and reading primary sources is tough. This is why you should ask a friend to translate. This will allow you to be on pace, and it will motivate you as there are two people working together. This will bring out the best of both of you.

If you have any questions please reach out to us via vivalatina.org@gmail.com.