Classical Civilisation
A Level Classical Civilisation is the study of the ancient Greek and Roman world. Looking at the literature and art that has captured people’s imaginations for centuries, we ask what the Greeks and Romans believed, how they behaved and how their ideas have shaped Western civilisation.
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Examination Board: OCR
Course Description
Students will consider The World of the Hero exploring both Greek and Roman epic, with the study of either Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid. The works of Homer are the foundation of the Western literary canon, and the Greeks themselves considered them the cornerstone of Greek culture. In his Aeneid Virgil pays homage to Homer, but also to Rome and its leader, Augustus. With their unique composition, and exciting tales of gods and heroes, these works of literature form an excellent grounding for exploration of the classical world.
In Culture and the Arts students will study three Greek dramas: two tragedies and one comedy. The course will consider the role drama played in ancient Athens, the big questions their plays asked, and the historical context of the 5th Century BC which influenced these plays.
Finally, in Beliefs and Ideas students will study Greek Religion. Students learn about the Greek gods, heroes, cults, oracles, sacrifices, sanctuaries, temples, and the philosophical questions the Greeks were asking about their religious beliefs.
Assessment
This is a linear course. This means that students opting for this subject will be committing to a two-year linear course, with all units examined at the end of Year 13.
Entry Requirements
Literature is studied in an English translation, and there is no Greek or Latin required on the course.
Where might it lead?
A Level Classical Civilisation can help open doors to careers as:
- Academic Researcher
- Archivist
- Archaeologist
- Academic Librarian
- Barrister
- Editor
- Genealogist
- Heritage Manager
- Historian
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Museum Education and Curation
- Project Manager
- Researcher
- Solicitor
- Teacher
Student Destinations
Bebe Thatcher
2024 Offers From:
- University of Brighton – English Literature
- Cardiff University – English Literature and Philosophy
- King’s College London, University of London – Comparative Literature
- University of Leeds – English and Philosophy
Katherine Horswill
2024 Offers From:
- University of Birmingham – Classical Literature and Civilisation
- University of Nottingham – Classical Civilisation
- University of Warwick – Classical Civilisation
