Classical Greek

Classical Greek GCSE is completed from scratch in two years.

This subject provides suitable challenge for able linguists, who have an interest in the culture and history, myths and legends of classical Greece. The course is well suited for those who are taking Latin GCSE, but can be studied equally well as an independent option. Because this GCSE is taught in only two years, the pace will be fast, and you should bear this in mind if you are considering the option of studying Greek GCSE.

COURSE AIMS AND BENEFITS The course aims to develop a greater understanding of the classical Greek world and its influence on modern society, particularly in the fields of language, science, history, the arts and our political systems. As you begin studying Greek in Year 10, the course will help you develop analytical skills and a more sophisticated appreciation of language, enabling you to discover some of the many links between Greek and languages still spoken today. One of the main aims of studying classical Greek is to gain access to the wealth of famous literature from the ancient world and to develop an appreciation of Greek literature in its cultural context. The Department runs a variety of trips, including visits to see Greek plays in London, Oxford and/or Cambridge. As well as being exciting and inspiring, this course helps you develop an intellectual flexibility, which will be useful in further study and subsequently a wide range of careers. COURSE CONTENT You learn Greek using Taylor’s Greek to GCSE (Parts 1 & 2), which provides knowledge and understanding of both Greek language and culture. Two prescribed texts are studied, one prose and one verse. The prose text for examination in 2023 will be the philosopher Plato’s moving account in his dialogue Phaedo of the death of his teacher and friend Socrates; the verse text will be an extract from Book 7 of Homer’s Odyssey, the great epic which tells the story of its hero, Odysseus’ ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. In the prescribed section, you will read Odysseus’ own account of his trials and tribulations that he tells to the King and Queen of the Phaeacians, a people who entertain him after he escapes from a violent storm and struggles ashore onto their land.

ASSESSMENT At the end of Year 11 students take three examinations:

Language 1 hour 30 minutes; 50% of marks Prose Literature 1 hour; 25% of marks Verse Literature 1 hour; 25% of marks

The course caters for a wide variety of interests: literary and linguistic, as well as cultural and historical, making it an excellent complement to many other subjects. We stretch students well beyond what is required for GCSE, getting them to translate English into Greek and exposing them to many sophisticated literary analytical techniques taught at A level. Classical Greek is very highly regarded by universities and employers alike, whatever discipline or career you intend to pursue.

CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT There is no Controlled Assessment for Greek.