CLASSICAL GREEK

This course continues to develop the skills used at GCSE: the understanding of the linguistic structures of Greek, the critical interpretation of Greek literature, and an awareness of the ancient Greek cultural context.

The A level Greek course continues to develop the skills used at GCSE: the understanding of the linguistic structures of Greek, the critical interpretation of Greek literature, and an awareness of the ancient Greek cultural context. Pupils sit two language papers, one testing their ability to translate Greek prose and verse into English, and the other assessing language skills through comprehension and grammar questions or translation from English into Greek. There is some additional grammar to cover, but no set vocabulary list: instead pupils improve their understanding of the language by

Scheme Of Assessment

• reading and discussing lots of original Greek, and in doing so become more confident in dealing with idiomatic ‘real’ Greek. The remaining two papers test the ability to comment sensitively on texts that will have been studied over the two years: one paper for prose and one for verse. The linear course has the flexibility to allow pupils to study two set texts in real depth, or to look at a broader range of authors. There is no coursework.

Clare Westran Head of Classics

Unit 1a: Unseen Translation / Unit 1b: Unseen Comprehension / or Prose Composition

Pupils build on their knowledge of vocabulary and linguistic structures. There is no defined vocabulary list, but candidates are expected to be familiar with the language used by the specified authors.

• Unit 2: Prose

Literature

Pupils study and discuss a prescribed amount of Greek text, as well as some of the text in translation, to give a better understanding of its context. There is a choice of texts, including Herodotus’ Histories, Plato’s Republic and Plutarch’s Antony

• Unit 3: Verse Literature

Pupils study and discuss a prescribed amount of Greek text, as well as some of the text in translation to give a better understanding of its context. There is a choice of texts, including Homer’s Iliad, Euripides’ Hippolytus and Aristophanes’ Frogs