Latin

Course summary

The course is divided equally between language and literature to give students a deep understanding of some of the most exciting personalities and events of the Roman world. The language work encapsulates the challenges of de-coding, problem-solving, and logical thinking and analysis. Students learn to unlock the meaning from the Latin, developing a sensitive grasp of nuance, meaning and genre. The Cicero prose literature topic, studied in the Lower Sixth, provides an overview of persuasive rhetoric whether that is through the medium of modern-day political speeches, advertising campaigns, or social media soundbites. The use of language to manipulate, persuade and influence is then contextualised through the historical context of the Roman period – murder trials, extortion, corruption and character assassination are ever present! The verse texts studied range from the epic backdrop of Virgil’s Aeneid, in which heroes, gods, and nations clash in an almighty battle with the destiny of a nation at stake, to a selection of satire and love poetry, that offer an insight into the everyday emotions and culture of the Roman world. Satire and love poetry present the relatable elation and heartbreak of young love, as well as comedic insults of the more irritable acquaintances of the authors. A profound understanding of literature and genre, as well as an insightful understanding of the mechanics of language and the etymology of vocabulary, will stay with the students forever.