Latin

Course summary

Studying Latin will develop your ability not only to spot patterns, but also to process information in a logical manner. It will refine your attention to detail and powers of deduction. It will give you access to the great masters of literature, Virgil and Ovid, and enhance your analytical skills while discovering the rich cultural legacy of the Romans. Fifty percent of the A Level exam is made up of translation and comprehension of unseen prose and verse texts. You will have three lessons a week dedicated to developing an expertise in Latin grammar and syntax that will enable you to puzzle out undiluted Latin passages from authors as diverse as Caesar, Livy and Ovid. The other half of the exam is made up of two literature papers focusing on four texts: two studied in the Lower Sixth and two in the Upper Sixth. You will study extracts from Cicero, Tacitus, Ovid and Virgil. You will have four lessons a week dedicated to translating these texts, analysing the author’s style and developing an appreciation for the tactics of the master orator and politician Cicero, for example, together with an understanding of the wider context in which his speeches were delivered.