Advice for teachers - Classical Greek

Teaching and learning activities

Unit 4: Studying a Classical Greek playwright

Outcome 1

Translate, and respond to questions on the context of, the set lines of a Classical Greek dramatic text.

Examples of learning activities

  • Read the set text section by section.
  • Translate the set text into fluent English.
  • Practise translating passages of the set text into fluent English under test conditions.
  • Use exegetical resources to annotate the set text.
  • Develop a commentary on the socio-cultural and historical context of the set text.
  • Practise responding to questions on the socio-cultural and historical context of the set text under test conditions.

Detailed example

Develop a commentary on the socio-cultural and historical context of the set text

  • Read the set text sentence by sentence.
  • Identify items of social, cultural and historical significance.
  • Research each item by consulting a range of exegetical resources.
  • Summarise the information obtained.
  • Compose an explanatory note for each item, using cross-referencing where appropriate.
  • Devise a bibliography of the resources consulted.
  • Incorporate the material in commentary form.
  • Share individual commentaries on the class homepage.

Outcome 2

Analyse and discuss ideas and techniques employed in a play written by a prescribed Classical Greek playwright.

Examples of learning activities

  • Read the set text section by section.
  • Identify major themes and issues in the work as a whole.
  • Identify motifs, concepts, opinions, assumptions in the set text.
  • Use exegetical resources to explain the various ideas.
  • Analyse and evaluate the ideas in group and class discussions.
  • Compose explanatory notes for inclusion in a commentary.
  • Identify literary techniques employed by the author.
  • Define, explain and evaluate each technique.
  • Write paragraph responses to questions on the author's style.
  • Write a practice essay under test conditions on the ideas and techniques encountered in a passage from the set text.

Detailed example

Write a practice essay under test conditions on the ideas and techniques encountered in a passage from the set text

  • Complete a variety of the suggested learning activities.
  • Study the set text focusing on the ideas and techniques encountered.
  • Write paragraph summaries of the various ideas and techniques.
  • Engage in group and class discussions on set topics.
  • Under test conditions, write an essay of approximately 800 words in response to a question on ideas and techniques in a passage from the set text.