Advice for teachers -
Classical
Greek

Unit 4: Studying a Classical Greek playwright

Unit 4 Area of Study 1: Comprehending Classical Greek dramatic text

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.

Unit 4 Area of Study 2: Analysing ideas and techniques employed in Classical Greek drama

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.