Classical Greek

Course summary

The course is divided equally between language and literature and gives students the opportunity to study some of the most influential and exciting pieces of literature in the history of western civilisation. Utilising the skills and knowledge gained at GCSE, the language work encapsulates the challenges of de-coding, problem-solving, logical thinking and analysis. Students enjoy a strong sense of satisfaction in accessing an ancient text and then representing it using contemporary, appropriate phraseology. The Iliad and Odyssey by Homer, studied in the Lower Sixth, are the beginnings of Western literature. The epics show us what it means to be human and are full of stirring tales of warring armies, feuding gods, romance and tragedy. The Iliad looks unflinchingly at life, death and mortality and is just as relevant today as when it was composed. The Odyssey examines the core Greek value of hospitality and includes some of the most famous of all Greek myths. Prose authors include the influential philosophical writings of Plato, Herodotus, the first of all western historians, and Thucydides who records the spectacular decline of Athens in the Peloponnesian War at the hands of the all-conquering Spartans. 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 for the rest of their lives.