Latin
Head of Department: Miss J Guy
The syllabus includes language work, a study of literature and an overview of the customs, institutions and historical significance of Roman civilisation, inviting pupils to evaluate the material read and studied, and to draw comparisons between the ancient world and later times.
The language work is not simply an intellectual exercise, but serves to demonstrate the importance of Latin as the foundation language of Europe, and helps to develop pupils’ understanding and appreciation of the other languages they are studying, including English. A study of the language also introduces pupils to Latin literature. A selection of Latin poetry will be studied in the original language, including work by seminal authors such as Virgil, Ovid, Catullus, Horace and Martial, and embracing the topics of love, society, death and fame, amongst others. The letters of Pliny the Younger will also be studied, and will give the pupils a fascinating insight into the political mindset of an Emperor and the ways in which the Roman Empire was run. Finally, pupils will study an aspect of Roman Life, which could include the structure of society, the city of Rome, the role of women in society or the Roman political system.
At the end of the course pupils will sit one language paper, two literature papers and a paper on Roman Life. There is no coursework.