Classical Civilisation

Course summary

Classical Civilisation is the study of the culture and ideas of Ancient Greece and Rome. The course at OSA is mainly literary, though it will cover ideas and examples of classical art and philosophy. In the first year you will study Epic (looking at translations of Virgil’s Aeneid and one of Homer’s Odyssey or Iliad) and Greek Theatre (with a focus on the context of theatre in Athens, and on both tragedy and comedy). The second year will move attention to classical thought, and will look at areas such as religion, love, politics and war. These, of course, are the literature and the ideas that have shaped culture in most of Europe, and learning about them is a really good way to support studies in English Literature, History, Philosophy and Ethics, Politics, and Modern Languages. You will have discussions in class, based on prior reading. You should enjoy reading – and analysing – literary texts such as plays and poetry to do this course. You will be expected to research issues and make presentations. You will learn how to write essays that present an argument clearly, and to answer short questions – and in order to do this, you’ll practise exam-style work.