The Erasmus of Rotterdam Research Centre (ERRC) regularly organizes the so-called Erasmus Seminars, where we bring together academics who have an interest in Erasmus from their research. The content of the seminars is diverse, from discussions on recent publications to extensive lectures. On behalf of the ERRC, we cordially invite you to the upcoming seminar on Tuesday October 21. During this meeting dr. Jacques Koppenol (Universiteit Utrecht) will discuss Erasmus and his didactics.
Abstract
In this talk I will present a part of my PhD research on the didactics of motivation in Erasmus’ Colloquies. I will focus on the use of humor as an instrument of motivation, and pay particular attention to a special kind of humor used by Erasmus: the absurd. This kind of humor is rooted in classical culture and was appreciated by a number of humanists during the Renaissance. Erasmus did not only entertain his readers by presenting this specific form of humor, but, as I will argue, also used it to challenge students who used the Colloquies as a way to improve their Latin language skills. By providing examples of different kinds of absurd humor in the Colloquies and reflecting on the challenges these instances could have posed for readers, I will identify three possible uses of absurd humor in a didactic-pedagogical setting.
Biographical
Jacques Koppenol studied classics at Leiden University, obtaining his master’s degree with a thesis on the humanist’s use of silence in neo-Latin emblem books. Currently he works on a PhD-thesis about Erasmus’ Colloquia at Utrecht University, facilitated by a Teachers PhD grant of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). His research investigates how, in the Colloquies, Erasmus seeks to motivate pupils in learning Latin, focusing on his use of youth, humor, and play and games. Besides his work as a PhD candidate, he teaches Greek and Latin at the Kennemer Lyceum in Overveen.
