Classical Civilisation A Level

Are you fascinated by the ancient literary and artistic achievements of Greece and Rome? Have you wanted to study Greek tragedy and famous Roman poems like the Iliad? These great works are the foundation stones of modern culture. If this sounds good, then this course is perfect for you as it will acquaint you with the cultural heritage of the classical world and give you invaluable skills.

Students will be advised which texts they will need to purchase for the course.

Year 1

‘The World of the Hero’ – Homer’s Iliad: explore these epic poems, with their unique composition and exciting tales of gods and heroes. Homer’s tale of the Greek and Trojan heroes in the siege of Troy evokes the role of the Gods and their impact on the humans.

‘The Greek Theatre’ – You will study Greek theatre and the origins and development of Greek tragedy through the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Literary technique, structure and conventions will be reviewed as well as the nature of comedy and the social, political and religious themes that pervaded the Greek theatre.

Year 2

‘The World of the Hero’ – Virgil’s Aeneid: immerse yourself in the opportunity to examine the Roman answer to Homer’s masterpiece with Virgil’s cast of characters.

‘Love and Relationships’ – You will study ancient Greek and Roman ideas about love and relationships, and in doing so, recognize and relate to the passions, frustrations, and delights of love in the ancient world. You will explore a range of ancient literature including works by the philosopher Seneca and the poetry of Sappho.

Assessment is through external exams.

At least 5 GCSEs graded 9-5 including a 5 in English.

Classical Civilizations is a respected degree subject in Higher Education and can lead to a variety of careers, including archaeology, museum curator, journalism, and the Civil Service.