CLASSICS
CLASSICS
LATIN OCR H443 AND GREEK OCR H444
‘ Classics is the ultimate humanities subject, with variety at its core: the Latin, Greek and Ancient History A-levels let pupils study language, literature and history in a coherent and satisfying way.’
The A-levels of Latin and Greek are each of them several subjects in one: they offer the chance to study the language, literature and history of the ancient Romans and Greeks in a coherent and satisfying way. The A-level examinations in Latin and Greek are identical in structure, so our courses are very similar.
In both years of Sixth Form each set is taught by two dons, one for language and one for literature. We start by reading some of the greatest hits of ancient literature not on the syllabus( such as Catullus, Cicero and Horace for Latin, or Lysias, Homer and Aristophanes for Greek), in order to give the richest possible classical education and the surest foundation for studying the set texts. Through this reading pupils develop their skills in literary analysis, understand the cultural and historical contexts in which the authors were writing, and appreciate the influence of the classical world on later European culture. They develop the linguistic facility and clarity of thought required for this through continuous work on language, based on translation both from and into Latin and Greek.
In the Spring term of VIBk2( Year 12), work starts on the set texts, half prose and half verse, prescribed for the final examination; these will include Virgil and Tacitus for Latin, and Euripides and Herodotus for Greek. For each subject there are four papers, two on the set texts and two on language. There is no coursework.
Latin and Greek may be studied together, something recommended if a pupil is considering studying Classics at university and wants to make the strongest possible application, or singly in combination with other subjects. They are regarded by universities as rigorous academic subjects, and support applications for both humanities and science courses. Several pupils each year go on to read Classics( on its own, or in combination with other subjects), many at Oxford and Cambridge.