Classical civilisation A Level  

WATCH THE VIDEO TO FIND OUT ABOUT STUDYING CLASSICAL CIVILISATION

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO START THE COURSE

6+ in English literature

6+ in English language

IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU?

Do you love reading and theatre? Are you fascinated by Greek Mythology? Are you interested in Religion, Philosophy, Art, History and Politics? If so, Classical Civilisation is the subject you are looking for, taking you through the birth of Western thought and culture to its influence and reception today.

An interest in literature is a key part of this course with an in-depth study of Epic poetry from Ancient Greece and Rome as well as two of the greatest Tragedies ever written and a comedy that is still shocking, all in English translations.  

You will develop skills to help you interpret the ideas and history of the Ancient Greek and Roman societies through looking at literary sources, archaeological evidence and modern scholarship. You will meet a range of top academics who come to give regular talks. You will attend plays, film screenings and lectures as well as visiting museums with the opportunity of visits to Rome and Athens.

YEAR 12 COURSE SPECIFICATION

H408/411 The World of the Hero

This component consists of an in-depth study of Homer’s Odyssey in translation.

The adventures of the Hero Odysseus as he battles monsters and struggles to reach home after the Trojan War have enthralled listeners for nearly 3,000 years. Learn about the literary techniques that have made this work so influential and the values of the Society that spawned it and have helped shaped notions of what it is to be a hero.

H408/21 Culture and the Arts   Greek Tragedy and Comedy

The Ancient Greeks invented theatre and this is a chance to study Oedipus the King, the most influential tragedy ever composed, as well as The Bacchae, one of the most frightening. Comic poet Aristophanes’ Frogs will introduce you to Greek humour which varies from silly and rude through to darkly political.

The Literature is studied in translation alongside the exploration of staging techniques using archaeological evidence from the earliest theatres and vase painting as well as commentaries from ancient writers and modern scholars, tracing their influence in theatre from Shakespeare through to the modern day. 

YEAR 13 COURSE SPECIFICATION

 H408/11 The World of the Hero

This component consists of an in-depth study of Virgil’s Aeneid- in translation.

The Romans wanted to be better than the Greeks at everything and here is their answer to Homer’s tales of the Trojan War and its aftermath- the heartbreaking story of Aeneas and his band of followers fleeing Troy to found a new civilisation in Italy. Here we find a new kind of hero, one who puts his community first, and a portrayal of the sufferings caused by war rather than any sense of glory.

The course will cover how far the poem can be seen as propaganda for Rome itself or for the Emperor Augustus, the history of Rome and its cultural values, compared with those of the Greeks and the modern world as well as its artistic legacy.

H408/31 Beliefs and Ideas –Greek Religion

A fascinating look at Ancient Greek beliefs from the Olympian gods and the world of the heroes of myth through to the philosophical thought of Socrates. Ancient sources, all studied in translation, include the poems of Homer and Hesiod, Greek drama, histories of Herodotus, writings of Plato and a huge range of material sources from the Acropolis in Athens to ancient Olympia as well as a range of sculpture and vases.

Clear here for more detail on the Year 13 specification

LEARNING AND SKILLS

Literary comprehension

Literary analysis

Primary and secondary source analysis

Analysis of visual material eg vases, temples

Essay writing

Discussion

Group work

Presentation skills

Research and communication

Supplementary reading

Theatre, museum, lecture and overseas visits

Learn directly from visits from top academics such as Professors Edith Hall and Oliver Taplin

Student run Classics’ Society

EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENT

 EXAM BOARD: OCR

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Students of classical civilisation continue into a wide range of degree courses which develop their understanding of the classical world. Students from LaSWAP have also gone on to pursue degrees in a wide range of subjects, including archaeology, medicine.