1 WELCOME TO A-LEVEL CLASSICAL CIVILISATION – YOU HAVE CHOSEN AN AMAZING A-LEVEL! What is Classical Civilisation? Classical Civilisation is the study of ancient classical civilisations from the 7th Century BC to approximately the 5th Century AD. It is a unique A-Level because of its versatility covering all aspects of the ancient world including culture, religion, politics, society, literature, art, drama, philosophy and architecture. It involves the critical exploration of artefacts and what they reveal about the people that lived over two thousand or more years ago and considers what these can teach us about the modern world as well as what they reveal about the people and period in which they were created. It is a truly fascinating insight into worlds that are at once entirely different from our own and yet simultaneously the very foundation of Western Civilisation. Why Choose Classical Civilisation A-Level? It is perhaps the most diverse of all the A-Levels that you could choose given the number of skills and subjects with which it could be linked. You will not only get to study the first great literary works, but also explore them in terms of their historical contexts and the monuments, vases and buildings which they inspired and in which they were performed. It is also one of the most highly respected A- Levels with the Russell Group labelling it an ‘informed choice’ for aspirational candidates. However, most importantly, it is a unique and engaging subject that will open up whole new areas of study that you will never have covered before. What will I be studying? MODULE ONE: THE WORLD OF THE HERO: 2 hour 20 min exam: 40% You will study: Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ and the contexts in which they were created. MODULE TWO: GREEK THEATRE: 1 hour 45 min exam: 30% You will study: Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus the King’ (a tragedy) Euripides’ ‘Bacchae’ (a tragedy) Aristophanes’ ‘Frogs’ (a comedy) A range of artefacts depicting theatrical performances The construction of ancient Greek theatres The origins of Greek theatre and its links to religious worship and democracy 2 MODULE THREE: LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS: 1 hour 45 min exam: 30% You will study: A selection of poems by Sappho (Ancient Greece) Ovid’s ‘Ars Amatoria book 3’ (Ancient Rome) Plato’s philosophical teachings on love and relationships (Ancient Greece) Seneca’s philosophical teachings on love and relationships (Ancient Rome) Ancient ideas about: relationships between women and men; marriage; the family; same sex relationships; sexual freedom and what was considered good and bad conduct; adultery; the ideal man and woman; desire and moderation This booklet is intended to give you a taste of what studying classical civilisation at A-Level will be like, as well as help you to prepare for your studies in September and hopefully get you enthused about some of the exciting topics you will be covering. Try to work through as many of the tasks as you can. (You will need to be logged onto your Queens’ School account to access many of the weblinks). 3 Who was Homer? Homer is one of the most famous and influential authors in the Western tradition. He was born sometime between the twelfth and eight century BC and is most famous for writing the epic poems the ‘Iliad’ and the ‘Odyssey’, which have had an enormous impact on Western culture. However, Homer is an enigma with many disputing if he is one man or many particularly given the oral nature of storytelling at this time. However, his epic poems provide a unique insight into early human society and continue to have an impact on literature and culture today from Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ to the Simpsons. Now watch the following video that explains a little more about Homer: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-vYxRmqM-vcrBV8PjdPhl2hDJ4Ysv-Ug The Iliad: This was Homer’s first epic poem and narrates the events that occurred in the tenth year of the Trojan War, (which began when Paris, Prince of Troy, stole Helen, the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta). The epic relays the argument between the great hero, Achilles, and Menelaus, when Achilles’ war prize, a girl named Briseis, is taken from him. Achilles subsequently refuses to fight or allow his men to do so, but the consequences of his withdrawal prove disastrous for everyone… Now watch the following video that gives you a humorous summary of the events of the Iliad: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bNU59ThtytbYJwFBkfBMXgDkFOaOJr_s 4 The ‘Odyssey’: This is the text that you will be studying. The ‘Odyssey’ is in some sense a sequel to the ‘Iliad’. The ‘Iliad’ sets the stage for the ‘Odyssey’, not only because its events form the back-story, but the themes and settings of the ‘Odyssey’ form a contrast and counterpoint to those of the Iliad. Whereas the ‘Iliad’ is set in a society at war, the ‘Odyssey’ deals with peace-time; the Iliad is all heroic saga, whereas the ‘Odyssey’ has a great deal which comes from sailors’ fables and folk- tale elements. The ‘Odyssey’ begins ten years after the fall of Troy and focuses on Odysseus, one of the Greek heroes from the Trojan War, famed for his cunning even more than his prowess in battle, and his journey homewards to Ithaca after the Trojan War. The prologue tells us that although Odysseus longs for home, he has suffered numerous disasters, lost all his companions, and is languishing on the island Ogygia with the nymph Calypso. The first four books are mostly about Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, who was born just as Odysseus was setting off. Now about twenty, he goes off to find news of his father. The situation on Ithaca is unhappy: Penelope, Odysseus’ faithful wife, is surrounded by arrogant suitors who want her to forsake Odysseus and marry one of them – meanwhile they have taken over Odysseus’ house and are living off his wealth. At the same time, Athena, Odysseus’ divine champion, successfully persuades Zeus to allow Odysseus’ return. He is released by Calypso, but Poseidon shipwrecks Odysseus on the island of Scheria, where he is entertained at King Alcinous’ court. While there, he recounts the story of his journey from Troy to Ogygia, which makes up the bulk of the fantastic, weird and wonderful tales of the ‘Odyssey’. The last part of the epic sees the hero’s return home. Initially disguising himself as a beggar on his arrival in Ithaca, he discovers the situation of the arrogant suitors and the plight of the faithful Penelope. Telemachus has returned from his travels, and in league with him, Odysseus reveals himself, kills the suitors and is reunited with his wife - at last. TASK ONE: Write one paragraph explaining why you think studying the ‘Odyssey’ might be worthwhile TASK TWO: Read the following extract and have a go at answering the questions: 5 And all this time, in travail, sobbing, gaining on the This is an extract from book 12 of the ‘Odyssey’ where Odysseus and current, we rowed into the strait—Scylla to port and on his men are confronted by our starboard beam Charybdis, dire gorge of the salt Charybdis, a sea monster a little like seatide. By heaven! When she vomited, all the sea was a whirlpool that can suck a ship onto like a cauldron seething over intense fire, when the the rocks and on their other side, mixture suddenly heaves and rises. The shot spume Scylla, a many headed monstrous soared to the landside heights, and fell like rain. But female creature, who devours men. when she swallowed the sea water down we saw the funnel of the maelstrom, heard the rock bellowing all around, and dark sand raged on the bottom far below. My men all blanched against the gloom, our eyes were fixed upon that yawning mouth in fear of being devoured. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: Then Scylla made her strike, whisking six of my best men 1. What happens in from the ship. I happened to glance aft at ship and the extract? oarsmen and caught sight of their arms and legs, 2. How does Homer dangling high overhead. Voices came down to me in anguish, calling my name for the last time. make the events in this passage seem A man surfcasting on a point of rock for bass or frightening? mackerel, whipping his long rod to drop the sinker and the bait far out, will hook a fish and rip it from the 3. What might this surface to dangle wriggling through the air: so these episode reveal were borne aloft in spasms toward the cliff. She ate about what Ancient them as they shrieked there, in her den, in the dire Greeks believed grapple, reaching still for me— and deathly pity ran me about the sea? through at that sight—far the worst I ever suffered, questing the passes of the strange sea. We rowed on. The rocks were now behind; Charybdis, too, and Scylla dropped astern. How can I find out more about Homer and the ‘Odyssey’? 1. Listen to this retelling of the story of Odysseus’ journey home in twelve entertaining episodes: http://classictales.educ.cam.ac.uk/stories/returnfro mtroy/index.html 2. Listen to ‘Trojan War’ the podcast by Jeff Wright 3. If you’re feeling brave, why not have a go at reading the ‘Odyssey’ for yourself. You can read a free translated version online at: http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.html 6 Who was Virgil? Publius Vergilius Maro, known to us as Virgil, was probably born around 70 BCE in Mantua.