Greek

Fourth Form (Year 9)

The more experienced Latinists in our fourth form are offered the opportunity to study Greek alongside their Latin. Inevitably, much of the year is spent learning a new alphabet, but, once this is secure, basic grammar and vocabulary are appreciated through reading the entertaining tales of Aesop's fables.

Lower Fifth and Upper Fifth (Years 10 and 11)

As our pupils enter the Middle School, some continue with only Greek. Some take both Latin and Greek, either as separate subjects or as "Gratin", a very rigorous and intensive course that occupies only one of their subject choices. Both routes lead to two separate GCSE qualifications, in Greek and Latin.

In preparation for the GCSE language examinations, we use Taylor's Greek to GCSE Parts I and II, a series of textbooks that have been based on experiences of what pupils find difficult, concentrating throughout the Lower and Upper Fifth on the essentials in both accidence and syntax. The information is imaginatively delivered through the story of Odysseus' encounter with the Cyclops and an account of the deeds and achievements of Alexander the Great, arguably the greatest general in Greek history, despite his short life. The death of Socrates, a selection of Greek myths and various adapted anecdotes from Herodotus' Histories, chronicling the historian's lively interest in foreign cultures and customs, occupy much of Part II.

Like Latin GCSE, there is an important literature component where the motivation and rationale for having learnt Greek grammar and vocabulary become apparent, as one tackles 'real' material, rather than textbook adaptations. These texts include Herodotus' account of the Battle of Salamis, the greatest naval battle of the ancient world, in which, after a twenty-year struggle, the Greeks defeated the Persians, against all odds, with the help of a little treachery, a brilliant strategy and a lucky wind. Alongside this prose, the pupils also experience the first and the greatest literary achievement of Greek civilisation, Homer's Iliad, an epic poem that centres on the critical events in the last year of the Trojan War, and, in particular, the loving and fraught encounter between Hector and Andromache, in which Hector bids farewell to his family, despite his wife's emotional entreaties, before he valiantly joins the battle, a battle from which he will not return.

There are no Controlled Assessments. All papers are worth 25% of the total GCSE.

• B401 Classical Greek Language 1: Mythology and domestic life       
• B402 Classical Greek Language 2: History     
• B403 Classical Greek Prose Literature
• B404 Classical Greek Verse Literature

Trips and Extra-curricular

Recent guests have included distinguished academics from a variety of universities, all of whom have generously given their time to visit Brighton College. Dr Michael Scott (Cambridge) spoke about the changing appearance and use of the Athenian Acropolis. Dr Ivana Petrovic (Durham) explained Homer's possible Yugoslavian extraction, while Dr Naoise MacSweeney (Leicester) introduced our classicists to the archaeology of the Bronze Age, the time of epic heroes.  

Classicists in the middle school are also invited on a variety of local, national and international trips during their GCSE courses. For further details, please see our 11+ and 16+ pages.

Classical Reading Competition

This year's Classical Reading Competition will take place on Tuesday 6^th March at 6pm.
Please contact Becky Miller  for further details.