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Aims and objectives

  1. To develop students’ understanding of the structure and functioning of the Greek and Latin languages.
  2. To further students’ command of Greek and Latin vocabulary.
  3. To encourage in students an appreciation of different Greek and Latin prose and/or verse styles.
  4. To give students the opportunity to enjoy writing Greek and Latin themselves.

 

Scope and structure of the examination papers 2024–25

Paper H1. Translation from English into Greek prose and verse

This 3-hour paper will be divided into three sections. Candidates will be required to attempt one Section only. Candidates for Paper A1 may attempt either Section (a) or Section (c). Candidates for Papers A2 or A3 may attempt any one of the three Sections. Credit will be given for knowledge of the general principles of Greek accentuation.

Section (a) contains five passages of English for translation into Greek (candidates should attempt only one):

  1. a 'freestyle' prose passage from any prose author
  2. a passage of law-court oratory from Lysias
  3. a philosophical dialogue (i.e. a 'question-and-answer' passage) from Plato
  4. a passage of poetry for translation into Greek iambics
  5. a passage of poetry for translation into Greek elegiacs

Section (b) contains one passage of English prose based on one of the prose writers of Section (a) or similar such authors, excluding the freestyle.

Section (c) contains five passages of English for translation into Greek, each approximately half the length of those set in Section (a). Candidates should attempt two passages, at least one of which should be verse.

  1. a 'freestyle' prose passage from any prose author
  2. a passage of law-court oratory from Lysias
  3. a philosophical dialogue (i.e. a 'question-and-answer' passage) from Plato
  4. a passage of poetry for translation into Greek iambics
  5. a passage of poetry for translation into Greek elegiacs

 

Paper H2. Translation from English into Latin prose and verse

This 3-hour paper will be divided into three sections. Candidates will be required to attempt one Section only. Candidates for Paper B1 may attempt either Section (a) or Section (c). Candidates for Papers B2 or B3 may attempt any one of the three Sections.

Section (a) contains five passages of English for translation into Latin (candidates should attempt only one):

  1. a 'freestyle' prose passage from any prose author
  2. a passage of oratory from Cicero
  3. a passage of narrative from Livy
  4. a passage of poetry for translation into Latin hexameters
  5. a passage of poetry for translation into Latin elegiacs

Section (b) contains one passage of English prose based on one of the prose writers of Section (a) or similar such authors, excluding the freestyle.

Section (c) contains five passages of English for translation into Latin, each approximately half the length of those set in Section (a). Candidates should attempt two passages, at least one of which should be verse.

  1. a 'freestyle' prose passage from any prose author
  2. a passage of oratory from Cicero
  3. a passage of narrative from Livy
  4. a passage of poetry for translation into Latin hexameters
  5. a passage of poetry for translation into Latin elegiacs

 

Course description

Teaching for these papers is provided through college supervisions.

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