This is a two-year A Level course, normally studied alongside two other A Levels or equivalent qualifications. It is ideal for students who are interested in the ancient world, literature, history, politics, religion and culture. You do not need to have studied Latin or Classics before.
The course is assessed entirely by external examination at the end of the two-year programme. You will complete three written papers, featuring a mixture of short-answer, source-based and extended essay questions. OCR’s A Level Classical Civilisation includes one compulsory component, The World of the Hero, plus one option from Culture and the Arts and one option from Beliefs and Ideas. At this college, students study:
· The World of the Hero – Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid
· Greek Theatre
· Greek Religion
Throughout the course, you will develop skills in analysis, interpretation and evaluation. You will study literary sources in translation alongside visual and archaeological evidence and you will learn to build clear, well-supported arguments about the classical world.
In The World of the Hero, you will explore the ideas of heroism, duty, leadership, honour and fate through two of the most important texts of the ancient world: Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid. You will examine the actions of Achilles and Aeneas, the influence of the gods and the values of Greek and Roman society.
In Greek Theatre, you will investigate the importance of drama in ancient Greece and its links to religion, politics and public life. You will study both tragedy and comedy, exploring how playwrights used myth, humour and performance to respond to major issues such as war, power, justice, suffering and leadership.
In Greek Religion, you will examine the role of religion in everyday Greek life. You will study temples, sanctuaries, rituals, festivals, mystery cults and hero cult, and consider how religion shaped communities, identity and belief in the ancient world. You will also explore questions about impiety, tradition and the place of individuals such as Socrates within Athenian society.