Sixth Form Handbook 2022-24

CLASSICAL CIVILISATION

Course content and structure Classical Civilisation is the study in English of the works, literary or artistic, of ancient Greece and Rome, in their historical and social context. Pupils are able to range more widely than they would if they were working in the original language, and the syllabus offers a great variety of topics. The course is divided into three units of study: • The World of the Hero – a close study of Virgil’s Aeneid and either Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey • Culture and the Arts – a study of either Greek Theatre or Greek Art • Beliefs and Ideas – an exploration of either Greek religion or Athenian democracy All modules involve artistic appreciation and the evaluation of evidence, in differing proportion - but the unique advantage of the subject is its scope for developing many skills not normally brought together under one heading, and to link them through the civilisations being studied.

Assessment Overview For The World of the Hero:

• A commentary question and two short essays, where analysis of a particular extract is required • An essay, testing the ability to argue a question about ancient epic from detailed knowledge For Culture and the Arts: • Short responses and essays on two topic-based sources • An essay, testing the ability to argue a question about the topic from detailed knowledge For Beliefs and Ideas: • Short responses and essays on two topic-based sources • An essay, testing the ability to argue a question about the topic from detailed knowledge Other notes An important component of Classical Civilisation is trips to museums, lectures and conferences, as well as to classical sites abroad. Studying this subject gives great scope for pupils to explore and research for themselves.

University and careers links Classical Civilisation may be studied further in Honours courses or as part of a Joint Honours course, combined with such subjects as Archaeology, Modern History or Philosophy, at many universities in the United Kingdom. Increasingly, universities see Classical Civilisation at A-Level as an entry prerequisite for more traditional Classics degrees. A degree involving the subject commands respect in all the areas where arts and humanities are valued: journalism, law, politics, banking, consultancy, the Civil Service, publishing and management among many others.

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