AS Classical Civilisations AQA Odyssey exam skills help!!

So...it looks like what you're saying is that for the 10 and 20 mark questions you've been taught to do it better than you need to? Is this a problem?

A2 Classics student on the AQA board here, hope I can help

30 marks - Advice as above, but again you'll almost always be able to write two different perspectives and should really try to do so. Follow the PEE (point, evidence, explanation) structure for all questions. Be thematic in your approach - this is very important. You score very highly if your knowledge of the poem is extremely precise. Try and make a mental note of quirky facts that other students might not remember! And always consider the intended audience and Greek attitudes - this is vital. It may be appropriate to contrast this with the attitude of a modern audience, but don't dwell too much on that.

Thanks for your reply! V.useful

To be 'thematic', I assume that this means to analyse the plot and themes together with regard to the thirty mark question?

E.g. importance of xenia
1. Telemachus is shown to be a good lad and is ALSO linked to revenge
2. Power of the gods and how they react during the odyssey is ALSO linked to immortal power
3. Time on Phaeacia ALSO shows Odysseus’ homecoming
4. Everything to do with the suitors is ALSO linked to revenge

Thanks again

That wasn't exactly what I had in mind (may just be the way I've been taught though, I've not had any problems from examiners though maybe thematic wasn't the best word for me to use!) but the way you've linked examples to significant themes within the poem is extremely important. If you can make connections like that in your exam, you'll produce a very complex and interesting answer (assuming you show detailed knowledge and all the rest!) And you do well to show bridges between multiple themes.


ETA: I suppose I meant themes within my answer, as opposed to the themes of the poem. My bad, poor choice of words.

I'll quote this one but I am replying to both your comments- thank you. I must admit, your way seems slightly confusing to me but I will read it over again. Thank-you

Hey cania,
I dont know if your'e still here but I would really appreciate some help with the ten markers.
How many paragraphs do you do? My teacher said 3 but I seriously struggle with that; I think with 2 I can go into much more detail and analysis and am never stuck for another literary technique as I only need to find and look at 2 this way.
Let me know,
Thanks

I signed in completely at random today, how fortunate.

I used to write about a page, I think. So you struggle to write 3 because you run our of time, or because you can't think of three paragraphs worth to write? If I remember correctly, you have about 12 minutes to answer the 10 mark question.


What do you mean, "I only need to find and look at 2 this way"? In my answer, I looked at every literary technique presented in the extract, hence using about a page. I actually scored 100% in this exam somehow, for what it's worth.


Quote for a reply, or I might forget to check back

I mean that I can write two longer, quality paragraphs instead of 3 brief ones that don't go into enough analysis. Did you paragraph at all then?

Oh, I see what you mean. I do paragraph. Can you not split your existing work up a bit? From the examiner's point of view, reading two paragraphs that are half a page each isn't easy on the eyes, and they're liable to be harsher with your marks if they're in a bad mood...

I used to split my work into paragraphs by themes, generally.

IN the ten marker wouldn't you have a literary technique per paragraph as oppose to a theme per paragraph? That's what my teacher said; he said do three paragraphs each explaining one literary technique homer uses to [whatever the question asks].
Thanks for this btw

I'm completely out of the habit of speaking the language of classics, unfortunately, my bad :P What I meant really by theme was just the general area of discussion - you are correct, that would be the literary technique!

However, I would say that I certainly wrote about more than three different literary techniques in my exam.. How odd
Do you have an example of something you've written that you could send to me? Perhaps I could give you advice more easily that way ^_^

No problem, feel free to ask away~

I'm completely out of the habit of speaking the language of classics, unfortunately, my bad :P What I meant really by theme was just the general area of discussion - you are correct, that would be the literary technique!

However, I would say that I certainly wrote about more than three different literary techniques in my exam.. How odd
Do you have an example of something you've written that you could send to me? Perhaps I could give you advice more easily that way ^_^

No problem, feel free to ask away~

hellooooo?....

****e, sorry! I read your last post and wrote out a reply - I must have got distracted, I'm so sorry!

What I was originally going to reply with was an example of what I would write based on a past paper, but I'm home for Easter now so I can actually have a rummage and see if I can find anything for you. If not, I'll do a new answer. You'll have to give me a few days, though, I have boxes and boxes of unsorted notes from A Level. Organised, aren't I?