Latin

Course summary

For the language element, there is a defined vocabulary list, as well as specified accidence and syntax. Unseen translations will therefore not continue words or grammar topics outside of these - so it is possible to prepare thoroughly for this part of the exam and attain full marks if effort is spent learning vocabulary thoroughly and applying endings and syntactic knowledge accurately. For the literature element, two set texts, one prose and one verse, are studied. Pupils will be required to translate the text, as well as analyse and evaluate both the content and style of the literature. For the prose text, the current cohort is studying the Roman historian, Tacitus, who writes on the emperor Claudius, his wife Agrippina and her son, Nero. For the verse text, they are studying Virgil’s Aeneid, Book 2, on the fall of Troy. Again, as both texts are prepared thoroughly in advance, the highest marks are accessible with the required work in advance.