Rebecca Deitsch
Visiting Lecturer in Classical Studies
I enjoy teaching Latin and Greek as well as courses on a variety of topics related to epic poetry, classical mythology, and gender in the ancient world. My current book project examines how gender, divinity, and politics intersect to shape the characterization of goddesses in the epic poetry and coinage of the Flavian period (69-96 C.E.). I am also developing side projects on heroism in Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica and on the reception of Classics in 19th -century Polish literature.
I am passionate about language pedagogy and making ancient languages accessible in the college classroom and to the general public. I run a popular website for Latin learners and an accompanying Instagram account, Latin with Livia. In my spare time, you can find me practicing Slavic languages, reading fantasy novels, and exploring obscure historical sites in the Boston area.
Education
- B.A., University of Dallas
- M.A., Harvard University
- Ph.D., Harvard University
Current and upcoming courses
Beginning Latin 2
LAT102
Latin 102 builds on what you learned in Latin 101 in the fall (see the description of Latin 101 for details) and covers the rest of Latin. In the last month or so, we’ll turn from the textbook to reading actual ancient and medieval Latin texts, such as love poems, letters, and myths. Steady review throughout the term will reinforce what you learned in the fall at the same time you’re learning new material. A single year can take you from knowing no Latin at all to being able to read texts that shaped the western literary, philosophical, and political traditions. Studying Latin will also strengthen your English vocabulary, improve your command of English grammar, and enhance your writing skills.
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Women in Latin Literature
LAT304
In this course, we will study three literary genres—Roman comedy, historiography, and elegy—each with its own characteristic view of women, from comedy’s scolding wives and young lovers, to history’s villains and heroines, to elegy’s mistresses. Taking into account authorial perspective, context, language, and style, we will identify how male authors in different genres construct woman as the imagined “other” in society. From Plautus to Ovid, we examine the ways a literary genre reflects cultural perceptions of women and gender in Roman society from Republic to Empire.