All about A level Classical Civilisation

What is A level Classical Civilisation about?

A level Classical Civilisation gives you an understanding of some of the oldest and most engaging literature and art ever produced. You will also gain a deep insight into the Greek and Roman world, from which sprang much of European thought and art, and which underlies our modern cultural outlook.

The literature studied in the course explores central human issues – fate and destiny, gender, war and peace, the human and the divine – to mention just a few. In addition, the art and architecture components involve study of some of the finest structures from the classical world, such as the Parthenon or the Coliseum.

In a highly enjoyable way, reading classical literature in English translation, you will progress from the first oral tales of Troy to the flourishing of theatre, history and philosophy at Athens and Rome. There are also visual arts options, covering a period of some thousand years, from prehistory to the end of the ancient world.  Becoming familiar with a unique range and quality of texts and arts, you will develop your skills of understanding a complex source and interpreting it for a wide audience.

The A level Classical Civilisation course from the OCR exam board covers three main components.

• The first component, 'The World of the Hero', covers Homer's and Virgil's epics, some of the greatest and most influential tales ever told, and places them within the context of the earliest literate cultures of Europe: the Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic and Augustan ages.
• The second, 'Culture and the arts', offers a choice of ancient theatre, visual art, or the study of themes (such as the imperial image or the invention of the barbarian), whilst examining the roles of men and women in Athens and Rome, using both literature and visual art.
• The third, 'Beliefs and ideas', gives a choice between the themes of Greek religion, the love poetry or the politics of Greece and Rome. You will be studying some of the most evocative and engaging manifestations in these fields and covering history and philosophy which stretches from the Persian wars to Socrates, Alexander, Caesar and beyond.

The study of Classical Civilisation gives you many valuable transferable skills, such as:

• logical analysis
• clarity of expression
• persuasion
• contextual interpretation
• breadth and balance in the handling, structuring and presentation of complex information

What sort of work is involved?

You don't need to learn Greek or Latin for the A level Classical Civilisation course. The subject leads you to a wide range of sources and approaches. These will always include much reading, whichever components you choose, and refining your thought in class discussion, where a personal approach is encouraged. Study sources include many original texts in translation but also engaging with art, watching short documentaries and films, or attending lectures and plays.

You will develop an extensive range of thinking skills while you interpret detailed and intriguing sources that demand a higher level of understanding and allow room for conflicting interpretations. The key exam skills are essay writing and dealing with questions which require you to interpret a piece of text.

What background do I need? 

The most important quality to bring to the course is an interest in culture and a willingness to develop your ability to appreciate and analyse. An independent critical ability and imagination is a great resource; a willingness to open a window onto an unexpected vista and confront popular misconceptions about culture is a driving force for many budding Classicists nowadays. You will need curiosity, determination, good time management, and independent working skills to achieve a good grade.

Where can it lead?

Successful A level Classical Civilisation students can go on to study a range of Classics degree courses, often under tutelage of top academics, especially since Classical studies are offered at many Russell Group universities. After training in their area of specialism (which may involve history, archaeology or ancient languages), students go into a broad variety of employment areas, from teaching and research to business management or the Civil Service, or opt for further study.

Careers can include working as archivist, barrister, chartered accountant, Civil Service fast streamer, editorial assistant, fine art specialist, heritage manager, higher education lecturer, market researcher, as well as many other possible creative or managerial jobs and careers.

One year course?

Due to the considerable academic and creative challenges of the new syllabus and assessment pattern, you will find it tough to do well in A Level Classical Civilisation in less than two years of study. Developing your skills takes time to experiment and think, and isn't easily compressed into three terms, but it can be done if you have good academic skills and you are prepared to word very hard

Assessment

The linear exam (sat for the first time in summer 2019) consists of 3 written papers - one on each of the three components described above. Each paper contains a mix of essay questions, short answer questions and stimulus questions based on a piece of text.

This article was written by George Chaldezos, Tutor in charge of Classics, Ashbourne College London