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Jacks White Oak Fundamentals Of Latin 240308
In the aged Latin classroom at the Spender Arts and Wellness Center, Jack opens the lesson with a mix of Latin language and Roman history, focusing on Pompeii before its destruction. The students, including Lilah, Silas, and Julia among others, engage to varying degrees, with some offering responses to Jack's queries about Roman architecture and the tragic city's fate. As the lesson progresses, Jack delves into the specifics of a Roman villa, invoking the students to find the relevance of ancient words in modern English. Meridith and Julia notably participate, drawing connections and interpreting the etymologies presented.
The discussion then shifts towards the topic of Pompeii’s notorious Lupanar, prompting a variety of reactions from the class. Jack probes further into Roman private life, specifically the Villa of the Mysteries and its enigmatic frescoes, suggesting a link between ancient mystery rites and modern supernatural understandings. This leads to an assignment on the private rituals of the Romans and their implications for today's supernatural world. Viktorin's departure in frustration and the prompting of further reflection on the topic mark a mix of engagement and challenge among the students. The class concludes with Jack assigning homework, leaving the students to ponder the lasting impact of Roman religious practices and their mysterious facets on contemporary interpretations of the supernatural.
(Jack's [White Oak] Fundamentals of Latin)
[Thu Mar 7 2024]
In the Latin Classroom of the Spender Arts and Wellness Center at White Oak
Aged, leather-bound tomes and meticulously annotated manuscripts line the sturdy, oak bookshelves. The soft, filtered sunlight seeps through the stained glass windows, casting a colorful, ethereal glow that dances across the weathered, wooden desks and the intricate, Latin inscriptions adorning the walls. The faint scent of antiquity lingers in the air and the distant murmur of students poring over ancient texts can just barely be heard in the distance.
It is about 50F(10C) degrees.
"Well," Jack tells the class as the bell tolls. "As you mostly know, this class is partly Latin, the language, and partly the history of the Roman world. Our reader covers life in Pompeii in AD 79, right before -- as you should know by now -- there was an unfortunate kind of explosion." He pauses. "Any of you ever been to Pompeii or to Herculaneum?" he asks the class.
Lilah glances over at Silas, offering him a faint smile, before class starts and her ecology textbook is gently closed. She shakes her head in response to Jack, and slinks down a bit in her seat.
At the question asked, Aristotle shakes his head. He does glance over to Silas at his applause, but doesn't comment on anything as he waits in silence.
(OOC) For those who want some color, the Cambridge Latin Course Jack is riffing off can be found in PDF here: https://www.ganino.com/files/CambridgeLatinBook1.pdf
Julia strides in, and falls to finding the back corner of one of the seats in the class with her hands in her pockets.
"Late, Miss Nolan," Jack notes to Julia. "I was asking the class if anyone has been to Pompeii or Herculaneum."
Silas releases a soft sigh after settling fully into his seat. He tilts his hood over his head some depsite being indoors and then sinks with a slouch into his chair. He does spot Lilah nearby and does smile faintly in her direction in return.
"I would hope they hadn't been at the time they were covered by poisonous ash," Julia retorts as she drops into that seat, and crosses her legs ended with heavy boots. She settles a notebook in front of her, and she pulls a pen from a pocket.
Viktorin grunts, "Haven't been to Italy, so no, I've not been to either."
Meridith doesn't answer, she just writes some notes. Presumably she may not have been
"So," Jack tells the class. "Our textbook goes through the rooms in a Roman villa -- Caecilius est in tablino," he says, directing them to page 4. "The tablinium is an office. The atrio, atrium, is an entryway or hall. The triclinium a kind of living room," he says. "The horto the garden. The culina is the kitchen. And Cerberus, the dog... Well. Cerberus est in via, much like Mr. Teptic when he got his ticket."
Jack pauses. "Does anyone see any significance in those words for our modern lives? Tablinium, atrium, horto, culina, via?"
Meridith says "Hortoculture, atrium is still used. Tablinium, like table I guess. Culina, culinary, related to food..."
Julia scribes down a few notes, idly looking towards others in class.
"Good, Miss Walker," Jack tells Meridith. "Like table -- a counting table," he tells her. "We use table for many things, but it started as a feature of an office." He pauses. "Now, what's interesting about Pompeii is how well preserved its houses are. We see them in many of Pompeii's buildings," he says. "The amphitheater survives, as does the Stabian Baths, the Temple of Isis, even the Lupanar." He pauses. "We're not discussing the Lupanar in this class, but does anyone know what it is?"
"Brothel," Julia pipes up, before adding some diagonal lines to her notebook page.
Meridith says "Does it have to do with wolves?"
Meridith oh's.
Meridith says "...Less lupine than supine, I guess."
Viktorin does his best to ignore Jack name dropping him over and over again, though it's starting to grate upon him. Especially with the way the man stiffens his back and twitches his eyelid. And he certainly twitches at the mention of wolves, distaste and the slight wrinkle of his nose making itself evident upon his countenance.
"I've never heard of that word before. But, I doubt it's wolves." Aristotle says, shaking his head a bit as he contemplates. "Probably something cultural, if I had to guess."
"Of course Miss Nolan knows about the brothel," Jack says. "But Miss Walker is right -- the name does have to do with wolves," he says. "Brothers were the wolf's den," he tells Meridith. "Their inhabitants were known as she-wolves." There's a pause. "We don't know why ladies of negotiable affection got the name, but I personally suspect it is because the men who patronized them were sinful dogs."
"Of course Miss Nolan knows about the brothel," Jack says. "But Miss Walker is right -- the name does have to do with wolves," he says. "*Brothels* were the wolf's den," he tells Meridith. "Their inhabitants were known as she-wolves." There's a pause. "We don't know why ladies of negotiable affection got the name, but I personally suspect it is because the men who patronized them were sinful dogs."
"Father, if you want people to participate don't be a jerk when they do. Unless it's Vik," Meridith adds helpfully.
"It was to honor Venus, Aphrodite, Isis, even Inanna, had roots in such Goddesses," Julia speaks with a low calm. "As a she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus, perhaps it was somehow associated."
Lilah sits quietly, no answers from her tonight. But she's paying attention, if her notes are any sign.
"I want to talk about a house, though -- the Villa of the Mysteries," Jack tells the class. "Miss Nolan, did you pay as much attention in your art history class to its frescoes as you did the pornography in the Lupanar? Or does anyone else know what is significant about the Villa of the Mysteries, especially for a school like White Oak?"
Viktorin slants his eyes at Meridith's words, and then he mutters, "Alright, I've had enough, I'm out." Slipping out of his chair, he gives a lazy, mocking salute towards Jack, before slipping towards the exit, muttering curses under his breath all the while.
"The majority of the frescoes are sexual in nature. Though I am not sure what the connection is between the latin words and those such as the Lupanar or the Villa, unless you are trying to make cultural connections to those words, and the nature of how they may have been used in a variety of fashions," Julia replies flatly before she sits back, and closes her notebook.
Meridith says "Classic Vik, quitting in a huff when it gets tricky..."
Aristotle turns his eyes over towards Viktorin as he rises, furrowing his brow just a touch as she silently watches the fellow leave.
"You're not excused, Mr. Teptic," Jack says to Viktorin. "Class runs for another half an hour. Take your seat."
Silas sits quietly in the back of the class, not taking notes, but paying attention. His blue eyes flit between the various speakers but he doesn't make any comment himself right now.
Viktorin growls, "I think not, Father. I've got floors to scrub anyways, don't I? And I've got to prepare for next full-moon." His features tighten and he slinks forth, stumbling sluggishly occasionally. But he's still making it to the exit, slipping forward. His eyes flicker towards his phone as it beeps. "What the fuck," he murmurs... and then he's out, tripping through the door.
"The connection is cultural," Jack tells Julia. Then there's a frown, a twitch as he swivels his eyes to stare at Viktorin for a moment as he walks away. His jaw works before he resumes class. "The Villa of the Mysteries -- particularly Room 5, which lies off the atrium -- seems to describe something important to the Romans." He pauses. "We're not sure what it was, but it's likely a triclinium, a kind of sitting room," he explains. "However, it seems to have been a private space, a place for invited guests... and the frescoes show a mystery rite." He pauses. "Does anyone know what the mystery rites were, for the ancient world?"
Aristotle shakes his head, attention set mostly on Jack, with a few curious glances towards the door where the other student left. "I'd guess something religious, but I was wrong about the wolves, so... is it about another brothel?" He wonders, perhaps a touch facetiously.
Chuckling. "Go with your gut," Jack tells Aristotle. "It is something religious. Roman religion had a public face -- Jupiter and Mars -- but that's really what we know from the great temples," he says. "A lot of evidence is that it is the mysteries that really drove religious life. Mystery cults were private organizations who had secret rites, conducted behind closed doors -- initiates only, worshipping their chosen spirit. Anything about -that- seem familiar to anyone?"
Julia purses her lips, though appears to be attentive enough to nod a few times.
Jack calls on Julia. "Miss Nolan?"
Meridith doesn't appear to have a clue at all, scratching her chin.
"Well," Jack tells the class. "Since we're getting a chorus of silence... It looks like it's homework time," he says. He turns to the chalkboard, starting to write. MYSTERY CULTS, he writes. "Let's have 200-300 words by next Wednesday, 3/13, on what you think the idea of private, exclusive religious ritual might have related to our knowledge of the modern supernatural world."
Meridith nods and finishes up her notes. She just looks drained. Quiet. She moves to climb up.
Julia's eyes shift to Jack. The line of her lips is somewhat apologetic when she's called on.
Silas leans forward from his stationary slump he had going on in the back row. He nods in Jack's direction at the mention of homework and takes his phone out to tap at the screen, looking as the details for the homework are given and tapping some more.
Flipping open her notebook, Julia darts down the homework down. She glances over to Silas and smiles wanly as she too casts a look at her cell phone.
"Good night, students," Jack tells the class as the bell sounds. "Homework by next week -- class dismissed," he tells them.
"Good night, Father Jack," Silas says as he stands up from his desk, nodding to Julia with a brief smile and heading into the hall.
Julia rises to a stand, her eyes affixed to her phone as she nods in turn. "Good night, Father," she too seems to chorus as she sends off a text when she closes her notebook.
"Good-night, Miss Nolan," Jack tells Julia with some look at her. "Thank you for coming to class, even if it is late."
"Enjoy the rest of your evening, Father." Aristotle says to Jack, perhaps a touch belatedly as he starts to rise to depart.
"Mr. Wilson," Jack tells Aristotle, pausing. "Come see me sometime, yes?" he says. "I'd like to check in with you about your studies."
"Of course, Father," Julia remarks to Jack as she pockets her phone. She wraps her arms about her notebook, dips her head stiffly to Aristotle, and clips out.
"Alright. I think I have your number, so I'll send you a text if that's alright and we can schedule something." Aristotle offers to Jack, nodding at him as he lifts a hand to wipe some lethargy from his eyes.
The discussion then shifts towards the topic of Pompeii’s notorious Lupanar, prompting a variety of reactions from the class. Jack probes further into Roman private life, specifically the Villa of the Mysteries and its enigmatic frescoes, suggesting a link between ancient mystery rites and modern supernatural understandings. This leads to an assignment on the private rituals of the Romans and their implications for today's supernatural world. Viktorin's departure in frustration and the prompting of further reflection on the topic mark a mix of engagement and challenge among the students. The class concludes with Jack assigning homework, leaving the students to ponder the lasting impact of Roman religious practices and their mysterious facets on contemporary interpretations of the supernatural.
(Jack's [White Oak] Fundamentals of Latin)
[Thu Mar 7 2024]
In the Latin Classroom of the Spender Arts and Wellness Center at White Oak
Aged, leather-bound tomes and meticulously annotated manuscripts line the sturdy, oak bookshelves. The soft, filtered sunlight seeps through the stained glass windows, casting a colorful, ethereal glow that dances across the weathered, wooden desks and the intricate, Latin inscriptions adorning the walls. The faint scent of antiquity lingers in the air and the distant murmur of students poring over ancient texts can just barely be heard in the distance.
It is about 50F(10C) degrees.
"Well," Jack tells the class as the bell tolls. "As you mostly know, this class is partly Latin, the language, and partly the history of the Roman world. Our reader covers life in Pompeii in AD 79, right before -- as you should know by now -- there was an unfortunate kind of explosion." He pauses. "Any of you ever been to Pompeii or to Herculaneum?" he asks the class.
Lilah glances over at Silas, offering him a faint smile, before class starts and her ecology textbook is gently closed. She shakes her head in response to Jack, and slinks down a bit in her seat.
At the question asked, Aristotle shakes his head. He does glance over to Silas at his applause, but doesn't comment on anything as he waits in silence.
(OOC) For those who want some color, the Cambridge Latin Course Jack is riffing off can be found in PDF here: https://www.ganino.com/files/CambridgeLatinBook1.pdf
Julia strides in, and falls to finding the back corner of one of the seats in the class with her hands in her pockets.
"Late, Miss Nolan," Jack notes to Julia. "I was asking the class if anyone has been to Pompeii or Herculaneum."
Silas releases a soft sigh after settling fully into his seat. He tilts his hood over his head some depsite being indoors and then sinks with a slouch into his chair. He does spot Lilah nearby and does smile faintly in her direction in return.
"I would hope they hadn't been at the time they were covered by poisonous ash," Julia retorts as she drops into that seat, and crosses her legs ended with heavy boots. She settles a notebook in front of her, and she pulls a pen from a pocket.
Viktorin grunts, "Haven't been to Italy, so no, I've not been to either."
Meridith doesn't answer, she just writes some notes. Presumably she may not have been
"So," Jack tells the class. "Our textbook goes through the rooms in a Roman villa -- Caecilius est in tablino," he says, directing them to page 4. "The tablinium is an office. The atrio, atrium, is an entryway or hall. The triclinium a kind of living room," he says. "The horto the garden. The culina is the kitchen. And Cerberus, the dog... Well. Cerberus est in via, much like Mr. Teptic when he got his ticket."
Jack pauses. "Does anyone see any significance in those words for our modern lives? Tablinium, atrium, horto, culina, via?"
Meridith says "Hortoculture, atrium is still used. Tablinium, like table I guess. Culina, culinary, related to food..."
Julia scribes down a few notes, idly looking towards others in class.
"Good, Miss Walker," Jack tells Meridith. "Like table -- a counting table," he tells her. "We use table for many things, but it started as a feature of an office." He pauses. "Now, what's interesting about Pompeii is how well preserved its houses are. We see them in many of Pompeii's buildings," he says. "The amphitheater survives, as does the Stabian Baths, the Temple of Isis, even the Lupanar." He pauses. "We're not discussing the Lupanar in this class, but does anyone know what it is?"
"Brothel," Julia pipes up, before adding some diagonal lines to her notebook page.
Meridith says "Does it have to do with wolves?"
Meridith oh's.
Meridith says "...Less lupine than supine, I guess."
Viktorin does his best to ignore Jack name dropping him over and over again, though it's starting to grate upon him. Especially with the way the man stiffens his back and twitches his eyelid. And he certainly twitches at the mention of wolves, distaste and the slight wrinkle of his nose making itself evident upon his countenance.
"I've never heard of that word before. But, I doubt it's wolves." Aristotle says, shaking his head a bit as he contemplates. "Probably something cultural, if I had to guess."
"Of course Miss Nolan knows about the brothel," Jack says. "But Miss Walker is right -- the name does have to do with wolves," he says. "Brothers were the wolf's den," he tells Meridith. "Their inhabitants were known as she-wolves." There's a pause. "We don't know why ladies of negotiable affection got the name, but I personally suspect it is because the men who patronized them were sinful dogs."
"Of course Miss Nolan knows about the brothel," Jack says. "But Miss Walker is right -- the name does have to do with wolves," he says. "*Brothels* were the wolf's den," he tells Meridith. "Their inhabitants were known as she-wolves." There's a pause. "We don't know why ladies of negotiable affection got the name, but I personally suspect it is because the men who patronized them were sinful dogs."
"Father, if you want people to participate don't be a jerk when they do. Unless it's Vik," Meridith adds helpfully.
"It was to honor Venus, Aphrodite, Isis, even Inanna, had roots in such Goddesses," Julia speaks with a low calm. "As a she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus, perhaps it was somehow associated."
Lilah sits quietly, no answers from her tonight. But she's paying attention, if her notes are any sign.
"I want to talk about a house, though -- the Villa of the Mysteries," Jack tells the class. "Miss Nolan, did you pay as much attention in your art history class to its frescoes as you did the pornography in the Lupanar? Or does anyone else know what is significant about the Villa of the Mysteries, especially for a school like White Oak?"
Viktorin slants his eyes at Meridith's words, and then he mutters, "Alright, I've had enough, I'm out." Slipping out of his chair, he gives a lazy, mocking salute towards Jack, before slipping towards the exit, muttering curses under his breath all the while.
"The majority of the frescoes are sexual in nature. Though I am not sure what the connection is between the latin words and those such as the Lupanar or the Villa, unless you are trying to make cultural connections to those words, and the nature of how they may have been used in a variety of fashions," Julia replies flatly before she sits back, and closes her notebook.
Meridith says "Classic Vik, quitting in a huff when it gets tricky..."
Aristotle turns his eyes over towards Viktorin as he rises, furrowing his brow just a touch as she silently watches the fellow leave.
"You're not excused, Mr. Teptic," Jack says to Viktorin. "Class runs for another half an hour. Take your seat."
Silas sits quietly in the back of the class, not taking notes, but paying attention. His blue eyes flit between the various speakers but he doesn't make any comment himself right now.
Viktorin growls, "I think not, Father. I've got floors to scrub anyways, don't I? And I've got to prepare for next full-moon." His features tighten and he slinks forth, stumbling sluggishly occasionally. But he's still making it to the exit, slipping forward. His eyes flicker towards his phone as it beeps. "What the fuck," he murmurs... and then he's out, tripping through the door.
"The connection is cultural," Jack tells Julia. Then there's a frown, a twitch as he swivels his eyes to stare at Viktorin for a moment as he walks away. His jaw works before he resumes class. "The Villa of the Mysteries -- particularly Room 5, which lies off the atrium -- seems to describe something important to the Romans." He pauses. "We're not sure what it was, but it's likely a triclinium, a kind of sitting room," he explains. "However, it seems to have been a private space, a place for invited guests... and the frescoes show a mystery rite." He pauses. "Does anyone know what the mystery rites were, for the ancient world?"
Aristotle shakes his head, attention set mostly on Jack, with a few curious glances towards the door where the other student left. "I'd guess something religious, but I was wrong about the wolves, so... is it about another brothel?" He wonders, perhaps a touch facetiously.
Chuckling. "Go with your gut," Jack tells Aristotle. "It is something religious. Roman religion had a public face -- Jupiter and Mars -- but that's really what we know from the great temples," he says. "A lot of evidence is that it is the mysteries that really drove religious life. Mystery cults were private organizations who had secret rites, conducted behind closed doors -- initiates only, worshipping their chosen spirit. Anything about -that- seem familiar to anyone?"
Julia purses her lips, though appears to be attentive enough to nod a few times.
Jack calls on Julia. "Miss Nolan?"
Meridith doesn't appear to have a clue at all, scratching her chin.
"Well," Jack tells the class. "Since we're getting a chorus of silence... It looks like it's homework time," he says. He turns to the chalkboard, starting to write. MYSTERY CULTS, he writes. "Let's have 200-300 words by next Wednesday, 3/13, on what you think the idea of private, exclusive religious ritual might have related to our knowledge of the modern supernatural world."
Meridith nods and finishes up her notes. She just looks drained. Quiet. She moves to climb up.
Julia's eyes shift to Jack. The line of her lips is somewhat apologetic when she's called on.
Silas leans forward from his stationary slump he had going on in the back row. He nods in Jack's direction at the mention of homework and takes his phone out to tap at the screen, looking as the details for the homework are given and tapping some more.
Flipping open her notebook, Julia darts down the homework down. She glances over to Silas and smiles wanly as she too casts a look at her cell phone.
"Good night, students," Jack tells the class as the bell sounds. "Homework by next week -- class dismissed," he tells them.
"Good night, Father Jack," Silas says as he stands up from his desk, nodding to Julia with a brief smile and heading into the hall.
Julia rises to a stand, her eyes affixed to her phone as she nods in turn. "Good night, Father," she too seems to chorus as she sends off a text when she closes her notebook.
"Good-night, Miss Nolan," Jack tells Julia with some look at her. "Thank you for coming to class, even if it is late."
"Enjoy the rest of your evening, Father." Aristotle says to Jack, perhaps a touch belatedly as he starts to rise to depart.
"Mr. Wilson," Jack tells Aristotle, pausing. "Come see me sometime, yes?" he says. "I'd like to check in with you about your studies."
"Of course, Father," Julia remarks to Jack as she pockets her phone. She wraps her arms about her notebook, dips her head stiffly to Aristotle, and clips out.
"Alright. I think I have your number, so I'll send you a text if that's alright and we can schedule something." Aristotle offers to Jack, nodding at him as he lifts a hand to wipe some lethargy from his eyes.