Course requirements 

There are no subject specific requirements, though we do recommend that you have a level 6 in English Literature, and have an interest in reading. Students who have studied Ancient History at GCSE will have the benefit of a strong grounding in the classical world as a whole, but there is no overlap of content. 

Why take this course?

• Challenging course that sets you up with analytical skills that are useful in a variety of fields.

• Interdisciplinary course: many students go on to study Classics at university, but it is an excellent support to those wishing to study law, medicine, politics and archaeology. 

• Allows for a deeper understanding of different cultures, historical events and literature. 

• Not available everywhere! Make your UCAS application stand out from the crowd. 

• As a humanities subject, this course allows students to widen their knowledge and skills, particularly if they are interested in STEM. It is important to achieve a balance. 

• No coursework! We practice exam skills regularly to ensure that you are prepared and confident for your exams. 

Course content

The examinations of each unit are similar, with transferable skills. The World of the Hero and Greek Theatre comprise analytical essays which have passages for students to refer to. These act as stimuli to help students answer the questions. The Politics of the Late Republic has a range of short answer questions, stimulus questions and essays. 

• We study Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid. Both epics explore themes of fate, nostos (homecoming), pietas (duty to the gods) and the nature of heroism. The influence of the Odyssey is apparent in vast swathes of European literature, and Homer’s approach to story-telling is still used today. Virgil’s Aeneid makes for an interesting comparison as we examine the similarities and differences between Greek and Roman philosophies. 

• We will be delving into the exciting world of Greek Theatre in the fifth century BCE, studying some of the most famous works. For the Theatre component we study Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Euripides’ Bacchae. Additionally, we study Aristophanes’ comedy, The Frogs. 

  • Sophocles Oedipus explores a philosophical and personal dilemma; “can we escape our fate?” The story centers around Oedipus, the new king of a curse-stricken city called Thebes. 

  • Euripides’ Bacchae explores the power of the gods, with a central theme of hubris (arrogance in the face of the gods). The new king of Thebes (different timeline to Oedipus, there is a trend that Thebes had some really bad luck!) called Pentheus, denies that Dionysus is a son of Zeus. This will be to his peril. 

  • Athenian comedies were almost always satirical, poking fun at politicians and individuals. In Aristophanes Frogs, the god Dionysus delves into the underworld to bring back a deceased poet. Expect comedy mishaps, debates and odd costumes. Under the surface, this play dealt with important concerns about morality and civic values. 

• In this component, we will examine the political thought of key individuals during the period of 79 BC to the death of Cicero in 43 BC. By exploring these attitudes and beliefs, we will explore the ways in which the Republic developed and eventually fell. This topic will be of particular interest to those wishing to go on to study subjects like Politics, Law, Human Geography or PPE. 

How should you prepare?

This is not compulsory, though it will help you prepare for some of the context of the course. There is no expectation for you to read the texts that we will study. Most of the recommended reading is available from the Classics office. Please come and speak to a member of staff to sign out a book. Most libraries also stock these books. 

• Stephen Fry Troy, Odyssey, Mythos, Heroes. (Parental discretion advised, as these do contain adult themes). Odyssey and Troy would be the most useful for this course.

• Mary Beard SPQR

• Natalie Haynes A Thousand Ships

• Pat Barker Silence of the Girls, Women of Troy (Parental discretion advised, as these do contain adult themes)

• Margaret Atwood The Penelopiad (Parental discretion advised, as these do contain adult themes)

• Madeline Miller Circe (Parental discretion advised, as these do contain adult themes)

• Robert Harris Lustrum, Imperium 

• Steven Saylor Roma

• Simon Critchley, Tragedy, The Greeks and Us. 

• Easterling P. E. (ed), (1997) The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy, Cambridge University Press

• Jones, P. (1989) Homer’s Odyssey: A Companion to the Translation of Richmond Lattimore, Southern Illinois University Press

• Fowler, R. (ed) (2004) The Cambridge Companion to Homer, Cambridge University Press

• Woodford, S. (1997) An Introduction to Greek Art; Sculpture and Vase Painting in the Archaic and Classical Periods, Bloomsbury (lots of Greek theatre features on Vase Paintings.)

• Crawford, M. (2011) The Roman Republic 2nd edition, London: Fontana Press

• Natalie Haynes Stands up for Classics

• You’re Dead to me - various episodes on the Republic and Greek history. 

• British Museum exhibitions feature Vase Paintings of Greek Theatre. https://www.britishmuseum.org/. Search for Greek theatre for masks and other objects. 

Any questions, please email Miss Meacher - meacher_a@bexleygs.co.uk or the Head of Department, Mr Risdon - risdon_t@bexleygs.co.uk