Browsing by Author "Wardle, David"

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    And ever shall be? A model for teaching French as a foreign language in South African tertiary institutions
    (2008) Everson, Vanessa Marguerite; Wardle, David
    The assumption underpinning the thesis is that the current teaching of French at South African universities caters imperfectly for learner needs and fails to reflect pedagogical practice and learning theories appropriate to the twenty-first century. Firstly, so as to contextualise that teaching, the Western European legacy of secondand foreign-language teaching is examined briefly from earliest times to the latter part of the twentieth century. Particular attention is given to changes in practice and learning theories over time with the aim of understanding the roots of the teaching of French while detecting possible lasting influences on that teaching. Secondly, current practice (curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment) at fourteen South African universities offering undergraduate courses in French is analysed critically against the backdrop of more recent learning theories; these are found to have little resonance in current practice. The analysis informs the model which is then proposed for the teaching of tertiary-level French at South African institutions. The starting point for the model is the acknowledgement that in South Africa French is a foreign language and must be taught as such. Consideration is given to the learning environment, as well as to ideology and constraints which exert influence on the teaching of French. With the proposed model a certain concept of language, society and learning/teaching strategies is advocated, while the roles of the learner, teacher, didactic material, and the mother tongue are clearly positioned within that concept. The model proposes a pedagogy and curriculum, which are learner-centred, taskarticulated and outcomes-based and which are anchored in constructivism and democratising ideology. Finally, reasons are given as to why the adoption of such a model would add value to the teaching of French at South African universities.
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    Dea Roma and the Roman virtues : a comparative study in the policy and practice of Deified abstractions
    (2013) Sharp, James Edward; Wardle, David
    The purpose of this thesis is to provide an in-depth study of the goddess Roma and the development and spread of her cult across the eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire from the second century BC to the reign of Augustus. In the east the institution of her cult was the result of expanding Roman influence in the region, and served as a means for people to conceptualise the presence of Roman power. In contrast to this, her worship in the west, as part of the imperial cult, was mandated by the emperor Augustus. In order to better understand the place of Roma in the context of the western empire, I argue that it is best to view her as a deified abstraction. The deified abstractions were a group of divinities in Rome that embodied a specific ideal or concept (the goddess Concordia embodying concord, Pax embodying peace etc.). In order to view the goddess in this manner, I examine what it meant for Roma to embody "Rome", and what this would have meant to the people who worshipped her. This examination also takes into account the views of scholars such as Mellor, who view Roma as little more than a political tool and a by-product of Greek sycophancy, as well as those scholars who view the deified abstractions in Rome as a carry-over of archaic Roman religion that held little importance to the people of Rome. Such opinions, I argue, are both erroneous and untenable.
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    Fortune and family in the presentation of Octavian in Nicolaus of Damascus' Bios Kaisaros
    (2006) Weightman, Clare; Wardle, David
    This latter question necessitates a survey of the development of Greek biography through the Hellenistic era. Biography as a literary genre was characterised by a broad range of traits and styles, and was concerned with the character of the protagonist, details of his pirvate life, and his deeds, works or achievements. The belief that an investigation of a man's actions could shed light on his character was a feature of Hellenistic popular thought that had its origins with the Peripatetics. Nicolaus was a self-proclaimed follower of Aristotle's school, and certain motifs or features of Aristotelean thought permeate the Bios Kaisaros, particularly with regards to his characterisation of Octavian and Caesar. Nicolaus uses the theme of Fortune, a familliar topos of Hellenistic literature, at key moments during the text of the Caesar Extract, to highlight his presentation of Octavian and Caesar. The characterisation of Octavian and his relationship with his mother and Caesar forms the final focus of this dissertation, illustrating pertinent aspects of Nicolaus' technique in his presentation of Octavian as uniquely fitted to succeed to Caesar's political hegemony at Rome.
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    Further Thoughts on the Death of Augustus
    (2008) Wardle, David
    In this note I attempt to supplement my recent discussion of the treatment by Suetonius of the death of the emperor Augustus in which I argued that the biographer carefully constructed an account of a perfect imperial death. I shall first consider an aspect that escaped my first treatment and then consider the contribution made in another recent study of death to which I did not have access in 2006, both of which relate to the presentation of the repentina mors in Latin sources. Lastly, I shall return to the notion of theatricality and acting that has played a central role in most interpretations of Augustus's last words to his friends to reassert the point that in the interpretation of Augustus's actions that Suetonius follows, based on Stoic ideas, there is no room for the notion of insincerity.
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    Poetry & patronage in the early imperial era : through the eyes of martial
    (2005) Austin, Richard; Wardle, David
    This dissertation has three main aims: firstly, to establish and confirm Martial's status as a client; secondly, to confinn his reliability as an eyewitness in regard to the functioning of patronage in Roman society; and thirdly, to consider the intention behind the epigrams directed toward the emperor. This study hopes to show that, whilst allowing for the devices which are inherent to poetry, Martial's epigrams do have some merit as brief sketches of the complex social machinery of patronage. Additionally, it will be made evident that the many epigrams dealing with his working relationships with various patrons and benefactors offer ample evidence for the practical origins of his discontent with his own clientage. The essay is divided simply into three related components. Remaining largely in the theoretical realm, the first chapter explores the nebulous workings of patronage, as well as amicitia, a closely related concept. The discussion considers the ideals behind these complex concepts, and their practical functioning in Roman society. A clear understanding of both of these social phenomena is essential so as to lay the necessary groundwork for the more specific examinations of function. By contrast, the second chapter shifts the discussion into the application of such relationships in reality. Thus, the chapter begins by considering whether or not notions of patronage were even applicable to poets. In this section I uphold the argument that poets could in fact become clients, drawing evidence (with caution) from the Epigrams. The question is thus answered by looking at what Martial himself says about clientage and the necessary obligations involved. A contrast may be drawn between Martial's hopes and dreams for his own life, as opposed to the realistic prospects of a client in Rome. Additionally, while Martial has much to say about his own living conditions, any conclusions drawn from his comments must be tempered by considerations of intent. Having acquired an understanding of client life through Martial's eyes, the third chapter begins with an overview of the specific conditions of literary patronage during Domitian' s reign. With the necessary framework in place, I consider the possible function of his epigrams in the context of his pursuit of imperial patronage. Some controversial Vl interpretations of such poems see in them veiled and ambiguous references in regards to Domitian's legislation and his personal behaviour. Consequently, the epigrams concerned are analysed for their possible ironic content, and the implications thereof considered. Finally, some general conclusions are drawn regarding Martial's depiction of the "reality" of patronage, both under the emperor and in Roman society at large. For, it is evident that while his idyllic dream of a poet's life differs significantly from the reality of his life in Rome, his poetry offers an insight into the differing modes of communication between patron and client, and as such constitutes a valuable and under-rated resource for patronage studies.
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    Poetry & patronage in the early imperial era : through the eyes of Martial
    (2005) Austin, Richard; Wardle, David
    This dissertation has three main aims: firstly, to establish and confirm Martial's status as a client; secondly, to confirm his reliability as an eyewitness in regard to the functioning of patronage in Roman society; and thirdly, to consider the intention behind the epigrams directed toward the emperor. This study hopes to show that, whilst allowing for the devices which are inherent to poetry, Martial's epigrams do have some merit as brief sketches of the complex social machinery of patronage. Additionally, it will be made evident that the many epigrams dealing with his working relationships with various patrons and benefactors offer ample evidence for the practical origins of his discontent with his own clientage. The essay is divided simply into three related components. Remaining largely in the theoretical realm, the first chapter explores the nebulous workings of patronage, as well as amicitia, a closely related concept. The discussion considers the ideals behind these complex concepts, and their practical functioning in Roman society. A clear understanding of both of these social phenomena is essential so as to lay the necessary groundwork for the more specific examinations of function. By contrast, the second chapter shifts the discussion into the application of such relationships in reality. Thus, the chapter begins by considering whether or not notions of patronage were even applicable to poets. In this section I uphold the argument that poets could in fact become clients, drawing evidence (with caution) from the Epigrams. The question is thus answered by looking at what Martial himself says about clientage and the necessary obligations involved. A contrast may be drawn between Martial's hopes and dreams for his own life, as opposed to the realistic prospects of a client in Rome. Additionally, while Martial has much to say about his own living conditions, any conclusions drawn from his comments must be tempered by considerations of intent. Having acquired an understanding of client life through Martial's eyes, the third chapter begins with an overview of the specific conditions of literary patronage during Domitian's reign. With the necessary framework in place, I consider the possible function of his epigrams in the context of his pursuit of imperial patronage. Some controversial interpretations of such poems see in them veiled and ambiguous references in regards to Domitian's legislation and his personal behaviour. Consequently, the epigrams concerned are analysed for their possible ironic content, and the implications thereof considered. Finally, some general conclusions are drawn regarding Martial's depiction of the "reality" of patronage, both under the emperor and in Roman society at large. For, it is evident that while his idyllic dream of a poet's life differs significantly from the reality of his life in Rome, his poetry offers an insight into the differing modes of communication between patron and client, and as such constitutes a valuable and under-rated resource for patronage studies.
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    Studies in Cornelius Nepos’ Eumenes
    (2025) Innes, Stewart; Wardle, David; Murray, Jeffrey
    This dissertation presents the first examination and analysis of Cornelius Nepos' Eumenes on its own terms and in its own right. Although Nepotian studies have experienced a revival, for example, in the form of the two recent monographs by Rex Stem (2012) and John Lobur (2021), as well as Francesco Ginelli's (2022) commentary, Nepos' Eumenes has received comparatively little individual attention, besides Stem (2018) and James Bradley (1991), despite being the equally longest biography in Nepos' Liber De Excellentibus Ducibus Exterarum Gentium and the author's only biography of a subject from the Argead Macedonian world. Chapter 1 discusses Nepos' conception of biography, his methods, and his use of source(s) as they concern the Eumenes. Nepos is consciously writing vitae and not historia and prioritises the virtutes of his subjects in his construction of biography at the expense of res gestae. His aims are explicitly stated (Epam. 4.6; Pelop. 1.1) and continually inform his writing. Nepos utilised Hieronymus of Cardia as his principal, and probably only source, as Bradley (1991) argues. By comparing Nepos' Eumenes with other sources derived principally from Hieronymus (i.e. Diodorus Siculus, Arrian Successors, Plutarch's Eumenes, Justin' Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, and the Heidelberg Epitome), I reconstruct a hypothetical schema of information contained in Hieronymus' original work, and thus what was available to Nepos, to show that Nepos selects only such information that illuminates the exemplary virtutes of Eumenes. Chapter 2 begins by showing how Nepos' presentation of Eumenes aligns broadly with the other accounts derived from Hieronymus. Then I argue that Nepos foregrounds the idea of Eumenes as a homo novus (a‘new man') to better explain his career for his Roman audience. Nepos' ascription to Eumenes of virtus, industria, and ingenium is unambiguously reminiscent of the language with which prominent homines novi (especially Cato Maior, C. Marius, and Cicero) spoke about themselves and are spoken about, and the ideology of novitas generally. The discrimination experienced by Eumenes is contrasted with that experienced by homines novi in Rome. Whereas Chapters 1 and 2 deal focus on Eumenes as a biography, Chapter 3 takes a more historical and historiographical approach: I focus on Nepos' highly abbreviated account of the Babylonian Settlement (June to July 323 BC) which is markedly different from our other extant sources. With close reading and commentary-style discussion, I show how and why Nepos constructed his account as he does and propose possible solutions to the so called ‘errors' attributed to Nepos.
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    Valerius Maximus on Vice: a commentary on Facta et Dicta Memorabilia 9.1-11
    (2016) Murray, Jeffrey; Wardle, David
    The Facta et Dicta Memorabilia of Valerius Maximus, written during the formative stages of the Roman imperial system, survives as a near unique instance of an entire work composed in the genre of Latin exemplary literature. By providing the first detailed historical and historiographical commentary on Book 9 of this prose text - a section of the work dealing principally with vice and immorality - this thesis examines how an author employs material predominantly from the earlier, Republican, period in order to validate the value system which the Romans believed was the basis of their world domination and to justify the reign of the Julio-Claudian family. By detailed analysis of the sources of Valerius' material, of the way he transforms it within his chosen genre, and of how he frames his exempla, this thesis illuminates the contribution of an often overlooked author to the historiography of the Roman Empire.
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    Violence and state response in the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius
    (1995) Munro, Malcolm Frederick; Wardle, David
    This thesis examines the concept of violence during the transition from Republic to Principate. Many of the provisions against violence which evolved during the course of the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius were a direct response to the violence of the Late Republic. They were to a large extent, new and revolutionary, but were not caused by the violence of the Late Republic: rather they were developed as part of the new political scenario to stabilise Roman society and secure the princeps' position. A by-product of these measures was to provide a new context in which violence (particularly institutionalised state violence) could occur, be monitored and controlled. In chapter one I attempt to define violence and to extract the contemporary Roman attitude, without which any conclusions drawn would be inaccurate and unrealistic. I have used Roman legislation - especially the lex Julia de vi (c 18 BC) and have examined the works of Cicero for the frequency and function of vis, the Latin word which most closely corresponds to the English word "violence." I conclude that the Romans had a sophisticated understanding of the concept: i) anything that was not conducted through the due process of law was considered vis, ii) violence was tolerated only in exceptional circumstances, when state security was threatened. In chapter two I explore in greater detail the attempts by goverment to legislate against violence in particular the lex Julia de vi and the lex maiestatis. Although the latter was not employed initially to remove political rivals from the scene, its abuse during the reign of Tiberius became one of the great themes of the historians to illustrate the decline and moral bankruptcy of the Principate and to look nostalgically at the Republic. Chapter three examines how the structure of the Roman criminal system changed, the gradual disintegration of the legal principle of self-help, and the growth and exploitation of the cognitio procedure in Roman courts. The state intruded more into the lives of citizens and therefore exerted more control. The role of three new jurisdictions, imperial, senatorial and that of the urban prefect, in the context of the minimisation and control of violence, is also discussed. The fourth chapter deals with punishment and considers the theory that there was a trend to greater severity in this form of state violence. It examines, against the background of Roman penal aims, the evolution of the symbols and rituals which accompanied different types of punishment. Chapters five and six discuss collective violence, its manifestations and explain the absence of revolution by the plebs. The introduction of new forces into the city (something which was anathema in the Republic) is discussed in the context of policing and law and order. They had a significant impact in the limitation of violence. In the Early Principate violence manifested itself in new contexts and was controlled more effectively than in the Late Republic.