Paper 1: Latin Texts and Paper 2: Latin and Greek Language

Aims and objectives

1. To introduce students to the Latin language and to develop their knowledge, abilities and skills towards the supported reading of original Latin texts and the independent reading of short passages from a variety of Latin authors.
2. To foster and enhance students' understanding of the structure and functioning of the Latin language.
3. To support students' acquisition and understanding of Latin vocabulary.
4. To offer guidance in the reading of texts in connection with students' work for Papers 1 to 4.

Scope and structure of the examination papers 2022–23

Paper 1. Latin texts. This paper is a 3-hour exam. It consists of Section A (1 hour): 2 short translations of passages from the set texts; Section B (1 hour): 1 critical discussion from a choice of 2 passages from set texts; Section C (1 hour): 1 passage from set texts for linguistic structures questions.

Paper 2A. Latin and Greek Language (option A) is intended for candidates who did not have GCSE (or equivalent) Latin on admission to the University. This paper is a 3-hour exam. It consists of Section A: 2 unseen translations (45 minutes each); Section B: five English-into-Latin sentences (45 minutes); Section C: Greek exercise(s) appropriate to the level up to Reading Greek 7 (45 minutes).

Paper 2B. Latin and Greek Language (option B) is intended for candidates who had GCSE or AS-level (or their equivalents) but not A-Level (or equivalent) Latin on admission to the University. This paper is a 3-hour exam. It consists of Section A: 2 unseen translations (45 minutes each); Section B: five English-into-Latin sentences (45 minutes); Section C: Greek exercise(s) appropriate to the level up to Reading Greek 7 (45 minutes).

Course descriptions

All those taking the four year course receive three Faculty classes a week + one grammar lecture in order to consolidate their grasp of the language and to read the set texts. The schedule breaks down as follows: Michaelmas, Latin language course material and Augustus Res Gestae; Lent, Ovid Metamorphoses 3; Easter weeks 1–4 Catullus, a selection of shorter poems (1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15, 29, 32, 35, 48, 50, 51, 58, 70, 72, 75, 83, 85, 87, 100, 101). The recommended edition for Augustus Res Gestae is Rex Wallace Res Gestae Divi Augusti (Bolchazy Carducci). Bring a text of the recommended edition. In Lent and Easter term these classes will also include an introduction to Greek. For Ovid, recommended resources will be circulated; for Catullus, use John Godwin, Catullus: the Shorter Poems (Aris and Phillips).