Women's Position in Society
Teacher: Joann Roberts
Foreign Language Discipline: Latin
Grade Level: High School
Courses: Latin III-IV Honors, AP Latin Literature
Topic: View of Women's Position in Antiquity
Unit Overview
Essential Understandings:
- The position of women in Greek society differed from the position
of women in Roman society.
- The roles of women in both Greek and Roman society had common elements.
- The position and roles of women were dependent on their status and
would vary accordingly.
- Much of the information regarding women in antiquity is derived
from a male point of view and must be analyzed and filtered by examining
diverse resources from other disciplines, including art.
- Western civilization has experienced both change and stasis in women's positions as compared to the Greek and Roman civilizations.
Learner Outcomes and Expectations:
- Students will understand the differences and similarities between
women in Greek and Roman Societies.
- Students will identify the differences of women's position in society based upon their status.
- Students will examine the position of various women from selected
readings in a primary source, the Metamorphoses by Ovid.
- Students will analyze these readings with respect to information
from other disciplines, particularly art, to assess the position and
roles of some women in antiquity.
Students will be aware of the changes and stasis of women's position in western society as compared to the Greek and Roman civilizations.
Essential Questions:
- What are the roles and positions of women in Greek society?
- How do these roles differ by class?
- What are the roles and positions of women in Roman society?
- How do these roles differ by class?
- How do the roles of women in antiquity change and/or remain the
same in western civilization?
- What information can be derived from a primary source?
- How does information from other disciplines such as art help substantiate your position?
Assessment:
- Students should be able to explain the differences and similarities
between the position of women in Greek and Roman societies.
- Students should be able to identify differences in positions of
Greek and Roman women based upon their status.
- Students should be able to recognize and understand the perspective
on women in a primary source by analyzing the material.
- Students should have an understanding of the value of information
gleaned from art and other disciplines to better conceptualize the
position of women in antiquity.
- Students should recognize the differences and similarities between the position of women in antiquity and women in western civilization.
Rationale
This unit will promote an understanding of women's positions in antiquity. It will allow the student to recognize similarities and differences between the roles and position of women in Greece and Rome. Students will be able to recognize differences in position which are the result of the status of the women. They will be able to assess the roles of women in western civilization with an understanding of their precursors.
Students will analyze material from a primary source to evaluate the station
of women in society. They will also be able to utilize and appreciate
information gained through art and other disciplines. It will expand the
students' understanding of research through incorporation of other disciplines
into their work.
Latin Lesson Plan:
- Selected readings from the Metamorphoses by Ovid
- Baucis and Philemon
- Pyramus and Thisbe
- Pygmalion
- Orpheus and Eurydice
- Readings relating to the position of women in ancient Greece and
Rome
- Research and lectures in art and other related disciplines
Objectives: Every learner will be able to:
Identify and differentiate the position of women in ancient Greece and
Rome.
Understand how class distinction affects the position of women in antiquity
Read and analyze a primary source to understand the position of women
Utilize information from art and other disciplines to gain a more substantial
view of women
Materials:
- Text: Metamorphoses
- Internet Access
- Handouts
National Standards:
- Goal 1 Communication: Communicate in a Classical Languages
- Standard 1.1 Students read, understand, and interpret Latin.
- Standard 1.2 Students use orally, listen to, and write Latin as part of the language learning process
- Goal 2 Culture: Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Greco-Roman
Culture
- Standard 2.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the perspectives of Greek or Roman culture as revealed in the practices of the Greeks or Romans.
- Standard 2.2 Students demonstrate an understanding of the perspecives of Greek or Roman culture as revealed in the products of the Greeks or Romans.
- Goal 3 Connections: Connect with Other Disciplines and Expand Knoledge
- Standard 3.2 Students expand their knowledge through the reading of Latin or Greek and the study of ancient culture.
- Goal 4 Comparisons: Develop Insight into Own Language and Culture
- Standard 4.2 Students compare and contrast their own culture with that of the Greco-Roman world.
Introduction:
Students will fill out a pre-reading survey to determine their base of
knowledge and engage their interest.
Procedures:
Students will read a packet about the position of women in ancient Greece and Rome. They may also research this subject on the internet at various websites. After completing the reading and research, they will take a post-reading survey. This will be followed by self-assessment of what they have learned.
Students will learn about art as a source of information for examining
the position of women in antiquity. This will be in the form of a lectures,
internet exploration, and a field trip. Students will develop a list of
questions as related to their field trip. They will discuss their questions
and answers in a group setting.
The students will begin to read and translate selections from the Metamorphoses.
They will examine vocabulary, etymology, nuances of words, poetic devices
and scansion to more clearly analyze the view of women within the context
of the story. The students will examine the story within the confines
of the society represented and will analyze the mores of the society represented
by the story. Students will analyze the material and develop mastery over
vocabulary and form. Students will research to gain understanding from
sources of analysis and literary criticism. Students will familiarize
themselves with the content of the stories as well.
Students will engage in writing a research paper examining the role and position of the woman in each story. The student will further expand the project in the form of an interactive presentation which involves other disciplines to support the premise in the research paper or expand the understanding of the class regarding the position of women in society.
Assessment:
- Self-assessment of reading exercises
- Aural assessment of discussion of questions and answers from museum
experience
- Graded assessment of Latin vocabulary, grammar, translation, scansion,
and poetic devices
- Graded assessment of research paper
- Graded assessment of interactive project
Interdisciplinary Connections:
This lesson plan is closely aligned with the curriculum for AP Latin Literature and Latin III-IV Honors. The AP exam will test students on their ability to read, translate, understand, analyze, and interpret the required poems of Ovid and Catullus. This lesson will give the students an in depth view of selected readings from the Metamorphoses by Ovid.
The connection between Latin Literature and the arts is one of supporting evidence. Art provides views of women which existed in antiquity as well as subsequent history. It is particularly valuable in the study of Latin as there are many areas which are rounded out by information provided in art. There is a somewhat limited view of women in antiquity and art provides some of the answers to the mystery of women's roles and place in society.
Future Unit Ideas:
An idea to incorporate into the curriculum would be to examine the position of women by reviewing the material of a different author or authors. Catullus would be particularly apropos due to the inclusion of his poetry in the AP Latin Literature syllabus. Another author worth examining would be Vergil since some of the students completed the AP Vergil course last year.
MS Word File for assessing students pre-lesson knowledge.
Assignment sheet for Research Paper on Women in Antiquity and the Interactive Project Based on Myth.
We welcome your comments
and suggestions
The Center for Renaissance & Baroque Studies
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The University of Maryland
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Last updated August 1, 2002.