Classics in other Triposes

Classical Papers available in the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos

The following notes for guidance indicate where classical languages and other classical subjects fit into the MML Tripos.  The classical papers available in Parts IA and IB are referred to as GL papers (short for ‘Greek and Latin’).  They are contained in a list (called ‘Schedule C’ in the MML Tripos) which is given directly below.

If, having read through these notes, you need further guidance, you should approach your Director of Studies in MML, who may refer you for detailed advice on particular papers to your college’s Director of Studies in Classics.  You may also wish to consult the MML and Classics Liaison Officers, Dr Torsten Meißner (tm10012@cam.ac.uk) in Classics and Dr Abi Brundin (asb17@cam.ac.uk) in MML.

Schedule C from the MML Tripos

Classics Papers available to MML candidates taking Parts IA and IB

See the sections headed ‘Part IA Courses’ and ‘Part IB Courses’ for further details on each paper.

• GL1. Greek translation and texts (Paper 1 of Part IA of the Classical Tripos).
• GL2. Alternative Greek translation and texts (Paper 2 of Part IA of the Classical Tripos).
• GL3. Latin translation and texts (Paper 3 of Part IA of the Classical Tripos).
• GL5. Classical questions (Paper 5 of Part IA of the Classical Tripos, with special rubric for MML students).
• GL6. Greek prose and verse composition (Paper 6 of Part IA of the Classical Tripos).
• GL7. Latin prose and verse composition (Paper 7 of Part IA of the Classical Tripos).
• GL11. Passages for translation from Greek authors (Paper 1 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL12. Alternative passages for translation from Greek authors (Paper 2 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL13. Passages for translation from Latin authors (Paper 3 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL15. Greek literature (Paper 5 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL16. Latin literature (Paper 6 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL17. Greek and Roman history (Paper 7 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL18. Greek and Roman philosophy (Paper 8 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL19. Greek and Roman art and archaeology (Paper 9 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL20. Greek and Roman philology and linguistics (Paper 10 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos, with special rubric for MML students).
• GL21. Translation from English into Greek prose and/or verse (Paper 11 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).
• GL22. Translation from English into Latin prose and/or verse (Paper 12 of Part IB of the Classical Tripos).

Syllabus for Part IA

Candidates for Part IA of the MML Tripos can take either Classical Greek or Classical Latin together with their modern language. Classical Latin is available only to candidates with A- level or equivalent in Latin (Option B); Classical Greek is available both to candidates with A-level or equivalent in Greek (Option B) and to beginners (Option A).

Option A (for ‘Intensive Greek’ candidates without A-level Greek) comprises:

(i) GL2, a paper containing unseen passages of Greek for translation and seen passages for comment;

(ii) GL5, Classical Questions (with sections on Greek Literature, Ancient Philosophy, Ancient History, Ancient Art and Archaeology, and Philology and Linguistics).

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL6 (Greek prose and/or verse composition); see n.4, below.

There is no Option A for ‘Intensive Latin’ candidates without A-level Latin.

Option B (for candidates with A-level Greek or Latin) comprises:

For Classical Greek:

(i) GL1, a paper containing unseen passages of Greek for translation and seen passages for comment;

(ii) GL5, Classical Questions (with sections on Greek Literature, Ancient Philosophy, Ancient History, Ancient Art and Archaeology, and Philology and Linguistics).

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL6 (Greek prose and/or verse composition); see n.4, below.

For Classical Latin:

(i) GL3, a paper containing unseen passages of Latin for translation and seen passages for comment;

(ii) GL5, Classical Questions (with sections on Latin Literature, Ancient Philosophy, Ancient History, Ancient Art and Archaeology, and Philology and Linguistics).

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL7 (Latin prose and/or verse composition); see n.4, below.

Notes

1. If you choose Option A in Classical Greek, you must take Option B in your modern language.

2. Paper GL5 (Classical Questions) has a special rubric for MML candidates, since they are studying only one of the classical languages.

MML candidates may, if they wish, answer questions in any of the non-literary subject-areas of the paper (Philosophy, History, Art and Archaeology, Philology and Linguistics); but it should be stressed that there is no requirement for them to study any non-literary subjects for either Part IA or IB. However, any Part IA candidates who intend to take in Part IB the papers available in Greek and Roman Philosophy, Greek and Roman History, Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology, or Philology and Linguistics, are strongly advised to attend in their first year the introductory lectures in these subjects (as advertised under the section headed ‘Part IA Courses (Paper 6)’ in this Classics Handbook).

This paper will be divided into two sections, containing:

(a) questions on Greek and Latin literature;

(b) questions on Greek and Roman philosophy, Greek and Roman history from c. 800 bc to ad 337, Greek and Roman art and archaeology, Classical philology and linguistics.

Candidates will be required to answer three questions. MML candidates must answer one question from Section A and may answer all three questions from Section A.

3. Candidates who take either optional paper involving translation from English into Greek (GL6) or into Latin (GL7) will receive credit for a good performance but will not be in any way penalized should they perform less well.

TIMING OF PART IA EXAMINATION

Please note that these Papers are taken on the first three days of the Easter Term and not at the more normal time for University Examinations.

Syllabus for Part IB

In general on the choice of papers for MML Part 1B, see http://www.mml.cam.ac.uk/mml/ib

The option to be examined by Long Essay is not available in ancient Greek and Latin.

Candidates may offer classical papers in Part IB only if they have already taken classical papers in Part IA. The Regulations are rather detailed because the combination of classical papers which may be offered in IB depends on the Options already taken in both the classical and modern languages in Part IA. There are five possible permutations.

(1) Candidates who in Part IA offered Option A in a modern language and Option B in Classical Greek shall offer the following in Part IB:

(i)   In the modern language, Papers B1 and B2;

(ii)  one paper from Schedule IB relating to that modern language;

(iii) Paper GL15, Greek literature;

(iv) one further paper from either the Papers in Schedule IB, or GL11, Passages for translation from Greek authors, or GL 17, Greek and Roman history, or GL18, Greek and Roman philosophy, or GL19, Greek and Roman art and archaeology, or GL20, Greek and Roman philology and linguistics. Paper GL20 (Classical Philology and Linguistics) has a special rubric for MML candidates, since they are studying only one of the classical languages.

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL21, Greek prose and/or verse composition.

(2) Candidates who in Part IA offered Option A in a modern language and Option B in Classical Latin shall offer the following in Part IB:

(i)    In the modern language, Papers B1 and B2;

(ii)   one paper from Schedule IB relating to that modern language;

(iii)  Paper GL16, Latin literature;

(iv) one further paper from either the Papers in Schedule IB, or GL13, Passages for translation from Latin authors, or GL17, Greek and Roman history, or GL18, Greek and Roman philosophy, or GL19, Greek and Roman art and archaeology, or GL20, Greek and Roman philology and linguistics. Paper GL20 (Classical Philology and Linguistics) has a special rubric for MML candidates, since they are studying only one of the classical languages.

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL22, Latin prose and/or verse composition.

(3) Candidates who in Part IA offered Option B in a modern language and Option A in Classical Greek shall offer in Part IB:

(i)   Paper GL12, passages for translation from Greek authors;

(ii)  Paper GL15, Greek literature;

(iii) one paper chosen from: GL17, Greek and Roman history, or GL18, Greek and Roman philosophy, or GL19, Greek and Roman art and archaeology, or GL20, Greek and Roman philology and linguistics;

(iv) two papers chosen from the following: one further paper chosen from GL17, 18, 19, 20 (details as immediately above); the papers in Schedule IB; Paper B3 in the modern language. Paper GL20 (Classical Philology and Linguistics) has a special rubric for MML candidates, since they are studying only one of the classical languages.

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL21, Greek prose and/or verse composition.

(4) Candidates who in Part IA offered Option B in a modern language and Option B in Classical Greek shall offer in Part IB:

(i)   Paper B3 in the modern language;

(ii)  Paper GL15, Greek literature;

(iii) three papers chosen from: GL11, passages from translation from Greek authors, GL17, Greek and Roman history, GL18, Greek and Roman philosophy, GL19, Greek and Roman art and archaeology, GL20, Greek and Roman philology and linguistics, and the papers in Schedule IB. Paper GL20 (Classical Philology and Linguistics) has a special rubric for MML candidates, since they are studying only one of the classical languages.

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL21, Greek prose and/or verse composition.

(5) Candidates who in Part IA offered Option B in a modern language and Option B in Classical Latin shall offer in Part IB:

(i)   Paper B3 in the modern language;

(ii)  Paper GL16, Latin literature;

(iii) three papers chosen from: GL13, passages from translation from Latin authors, GL17, Greek and Roman history, G18, Greek and Roman philosophy, GL19, Greek and Roman art and archaeology, GL20, Greek and Roman philology and linguistics, and the papers in Schedule IB. Paper GL20 (Classical Philology and Linguistics) has a special rubric for MML candidates, since they are studying only one of the classical languages.

Candidates may optionally offer, in addition to the above, GL22, Latin prose and/or verse composition.

TIMING OF PART 1B EXAMINATION

The composition papers are taken on the first two days of the Easter Term, the remaining papers at the normal time for University Examinations, in late May or early June.

Syllabus for Part II

An MML student who has completed his or her year abroad and has returned to take Part II may take up to two papers from the list of papers known as ‘Schedule D’ in the MML Tripos. Schedule D (given below) contains a selection of papers from Part II of the Classical Tripos.

Schedule D

Classics papers available to MML candidates taking Part II

The Part II Courses section will provide further details on each paper.

• Paper A1: Homer, Odyssey and/or Virgil, Aeneid.
• Paper A2: Apollo and Dionysus.
• Paper A3: Ovid, Metamorphoses.
• Paper B1: Plato, Phaedo.
• Paper B2: Aristotle’s World, from Turtles to Tragedies.
• Paper C4: The Transformation of the Roman world.
• Paper D3: The Poetics of Classical art.
• Paper E2: Greek in the Bronze Age.
• Paper E3: Latin and its Neighbours.

In general on choice of Papers in MML Part II, see http://www.mml.cam.ac.uk/mml/ii