skip to content
 

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, which many will not have been offered at school, to enjoy writing Greek and Latin themselves.

 

Scope and structure of the examination papers 2023–24

Paper 7. Translation into Greek Prose and Verse 

This paper will be divided into three Sections. Candidates will be required to attempt one Section only. Candidates for Paper 1 may attempt either Section (a) or Section (c). Candidates for Paper 2 may attempt any one of the three Sections. Credit will be given for knowledge of the general principles of Greek accentuation.

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

  1. a passage of law-court oratory from Lysias
  2. a philosophical dialogue (i.e. a ‘question-and-answer’ passage) from Plato
  3. a passage of poetry for translation into Greek iambics
  4. a passage of poetry for translation into Greek elegiacs

Section (b) contains one passage of English prose based on Lysias 1.6-26, for translation into Greek prose.

Section (c) contains four 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 passage of law-court oratory from Lysias
  2. a philosophical dialogue (i.e. a ‘question-and-answer’ passage) from Plato
  3. a passage of poetry for translation into Greek iambics                                                   
  4. a passage of poetry for translation into Greek elegiacs

 

Paper 8. Translation into Latin Prose and Verse

This paper will be divided into three Sections. Candidates will be required to attempt one Section only. Candidates for Paper 3 may attempt either Section (a) or Section (c). Candidates for Paper 4 may attempt any one of the three Sections.

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

  1. a ‘freestyle’ prose passage from any modern author
  2. a passage of oratory from Cicero
  3. a passage of poetry for translation into Latin hexameters
  4. a passage of poetry for translation into Latin elegiacs

Section (b) contains one passage of English prose based on one of the Latin prose texts prescribed for Part 1A.

Section (c) contains four 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 modern author
  2. a passage of oratory from Cicero
  3. a passage of poetry for translation into Latin hexameters
  4. a passage of poetry for translation into Latin elegiacs

 

Course description

Most of the teaching for these papers is provided through college supervisions. However, the Faculty offers the following course:

WRITING GREEK AND LATIN

WEISS
(16 C: Michaelmas and Lent)

Prose composition is a valuable tool for learning Greek and Latin: it reinforces our knowledge of the languages and gives us a chance to be creative with them! This course is designed for complete beginners but those who would like to improve their skills are most welcome. Lectures are presented in the form of an informal workshop (though no preparation or participation is required) and normally alternate between Ancient Greek and Latin. In Michaelmas we concentrate on basic forms and expressions and in Lent we move into classic subordinate clauses, ultimately with a view of imitating Plato and Cicero. Those interested in verse composition will find this course useful but they should also contact their Director of Studies to arrange for supervisions in verse. Those offering a Greek composition paper will be aided by the course on Greek accents.

Latest news

Classical Equalities Lecture 25 April 2024 at 17.00 in G19

4 March 2024

Jane Draycott will be giving this year’s Classical Equalities lecture, on ‘ Prostheses in Classical Antiquity: Everything You Never Knew You Wanted To Know’. Jane Draycott is Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Glasgow. Her research investigates science, technology, and medicine in the ancient world. She has...

Soundmarks Project

12 February 2024

Soundmarks, an art/archaeology collaboration between Rose Ferraby, Cambridge Archaeologist, and Rob St John using sound and visual art launches at DIG in York. In 2019 the pair created work exploring and animating the sub-surface landscape of Aldborough Roman Town in North Yorkshire, UK. Soundmarks Aldborough was re-shown...

Vacancy: Assistant Professor in Latin literature

8 February 2024

The Faculty of Classics is seeking to appoint an Assistant Professor in Classics (Latin literature) from 01 September 2024. The role is open to those, at any stage in their career, with a primary research interest in Latin literature. The successful candidates will have, or be expected to develop, a record of world-class...

Publication: The New Documents in Mycenaean Greek

24 January 2024

The Faculty of Classics is proud to announce the publication of The New Documents in Mycenaean Greek , edited by John Killen FBA, the Emeritus Professor of Mycenaean Greek. More than a dozen leading Mycenologists have contributed chapters and sections to this seminal work in two volumes, comprised of more than 1100 pages...