Part A - Two Topics from the Following Four Options
Topic 1: Greek Epic
One epic by Homer: Iliad or Odyssey - selected sections.
A textual study.
The focus of study for this topic is primarily literary, with social and cultural elements. Candidates will be required to show knowledge and understanding of the specified texts and make evaluative judgements on them. They should also be able to link their knowledge of the Classical world and the context in which these texts were composed or written to their analysis of the texts.
The following are the specified texts for study:
Homer’s Odyssey, Books 1, 5-12 and 19-23
Homer’s Iliad, Books 1, 3-6, 9, 16, 18-19 and 22-24
Because this topic is examined by essay questions, there is no set translation, and candidates are welcome to use any translation they wish, though Odyssey, trans Rieu, Penguin 1991 (repr 2003) and Iliad, trans Hammond, Penguin 1987 are recommended. Candidates are only expected to read the books listed above, though a knowledge of the plot of the whole of the epic will be useful; credit will be given to relevant examples or evidence from other books (not listed above) included in a candidate’s answer, but no question will be set which requires knowledge of these non-specified books.
The recommended means of approaching this study is by consideration of the following aspects:
The plot of the selected books listed above.
The character of Odysseus / Achilles and the nature of his heroism.
The characterisation of the other characters within these books.
Oral composition and the nature of the Odyssey / Iliad as a text.
Homer’s narrative technique.
The role of the gods and fate.
Xenia (hospitality) [Odyssey only].
The portrayal of war [Iliad only].
Other cultural and social values and background required to understand the texts
Topic 2: Greek Tragedy
Two plays by Euripides: Bacchae and Hippolytus.
A textual study.
A study of two extant plays, the Bacchae and the Hippolytus, by the Greek playwright Euripides. The focus of study for this topic is primarily literary, but considers cultural, religious and philosophical issues within their historical context. The Topic is primarily an introduction to the genre of classical Greek tragedy and by the end of the study students will be expected to respond to and interact with the plays as pieces of literature in their own right and to be able to demonstrate an understanding of the works within their historical context in relation to cultural, religious and philosophical elements.
Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and reasoned evaluation of the following areas:
The Bacchae and the Hippolytus of Euripides (in translation).
The structure of the plots.
Characterisation and key themes of the tragedies.
The role of the chorus.
Free will and fate.
The role of the gods and their interactions with man.
Topic 3: Roman Epic
One epic: either Virgil: Aeneid or Ovid: Metamorphoses
A textual study.
The focus of study for this topic is both literary and socio-historical. Candidates will be required to show knowledge and understanding of the specified texts and make evaluative judgements on them. They should also be able to link their knowledge of the Classical world and the context in which these texts were composed or written to their analysis of the texts.
The following are the specified texts for study:
Virgil’s Aeneid, Books 1-2, 4, 6, 7-8, 10 and 12
Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Books 1-3, 7-8, 10-11 and 15
As this topic is examined by essay questions, there is no set translation, and candidates are welcome to use any translation they wish, though Aeneid, trans West, Penguin 2003 and Metamorphoses, trans Innes Penguin 1955 are recommended. Candidates are only expected to read the books listed above, though a knowledge of the plot of the whole of the epic will be useful; credit will be given to relevant examples or evidence from other books (not listed above) included in a candidate’s answer, but no question will be set which requires knowledge of these non-specified books.
The recommended means of approaching this study is by consideration of the following aspects:
AENEID
The plot of the selected books listed above.
The character of Aeneas and the nature of his heroism.
The portrayal and characterisation of other characters, including Aeneas’ enemies.
The role of the gods, fate and women, and relationships between fathers and sons.
The literary context of the Aeneid and its debt to Homer.
Virgil’s narrative technique.
The political & historical context in which the Aeneid was written, and the regime of Augustus.
METAMORPHOSES
The plot of the selected books listed above.
The literary context of the Metamorphoses and its nature as an epic.
The portrayal of the main characters in the prescribed books.
The role of the gods, and the relationship between gods and mortals.
Ovid’s narrative technique, including links between stories and the role of transformation.
Themes such as love, punishment and reward, loyalty and betrayal, the power of art.
The political & historical context in which the Metamorphoses was written.
Topic 4: Roman Religion
A selection of relevant primary and secondary sources.
A partial study of extant sources, selected by the teacher.
The focus of study for this topic is primarily social. The emphasis is on using a variety of sources as historical evidence to help candidates develop in-depth knowledge and broad understanding about religious beliefs, traditions and practices in the Roman world. By evaluating and investigating, candidates will develop the ability to think independently, reason critically and to make informed judgements on the reliability of sources.
The following are the specified areas for study:
An evidence-based study of religious beliefs and practices in Rome in the first century BC and the first century AD.
The two main aspects to be studied are:
public and private religious ideas and practices
the interaction of religion, personal morality and identity.
The recommended means of approaching this study is by consideration of the following aspects:
contact with the gods
state religion
domestic religion
cults and mystery religions
the afterlife.
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