A-level Classical Civilisation Study Group 2023-2024

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I always try and make 6 points, so 6 mini paragraphs to make this clear to the examiner

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basically don't waffle, just drop the quote and explain why it makes the passage vivid/dramatic or whatever

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for 10 markers since u just need to hit the spec points do it quickly and without flair

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I do like a sentence ish introduction basically explaining why the topic is important, or establishing whether I agree or not with the statement

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I usually do 2 or 3 paragraphs under key headings/topic sentences > make 2/3 points and then fill it up with evidence and close analysis

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one or two line conclusion again just evaluating the question, explaining why you agree/disagree etc

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longer introduction to establish the over arching argument you are reaching for. since I always do the Aeneid question adding some context or background about major scholarly debates abt the topic

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3 points > make the point, quote a scholar and then use the evidence in the rest of the para to prove your point and the scholar quote

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longer conclusion summarising and evaluating your argument. try to extend it if you can, talk about Virgils intentions etc

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Social structure - Monarchy, with a king leading each city or nation. You can give examples of Nestor and Menelaus as good kings. You could also say that Odysseus' absence as King has brought disorder to Ithaca. As evidence, I'd focus on the assembly in Bk2. From this, you could make a separate point about democracy being important to the greeks.

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Civilised/uncivilised societies - The Laestrygonians and Cyclopes are good examples of people from lawless scoieties who don't care about the gods and important customs such as xenia. Odysseus often repeats the phrase 'god-fearing people or lawless savages' on his journey; this emphasises how important the gods were, as those who didn't worship them were viewed as immoral monsters.

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Slaves and household workers - You can speak on loyal and disloyal slaves, there are examples of both. Eumaeus and Philoetius juxtaposed against Melantho and Melanthius with treatment of beggar Odysseus. I'd also include the fact that the punishment of the unfaithful maids and Melanthius is much more extreme than the punishment for the suitors. The maids are hanged like dead doves, and Melanthius is butchered and fed to dogs. This is arguably a comment on just how atrocious it was to be disloyal to your master, suggesting that it justified these punishments.

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Hero culture and bards - Odysseus' very open praise of Demodocus is your strongest piece of evidence here- he openly states that he values bards the most, above all men. Their ability to tell stories is really necessary for Kleos, which ancient heroes depended on.

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The dead/afterlife - There were very specific rituals surrounding the dead and the process of moving into the afterlife. Main point would be Elpenor, he begs Odysseus to give him a proper burial. Odysseus does this without a second thought. The general portrayal of the underworld is also consistent with beliefs of the time; the fact that spirits crave life (blood) and are cold spectres. The underworld is full of misery, Achilles would rather be essentially a nobody and live again than be a king amongst the dead.

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Religious rituals - Abundance of examples of these, but the amount of them through the whole epic show how much religion was a part of everyday life. My chosen examples would be Nestor's sacrifices in Bk3 and how he invites Telemachus and Mentor to join, the improper sacrifice (using water instead of wine + oak leaves instead of white barley) carried out by Odysseus' men on the Thrinacie as an example of how there were ways to conduct sacrifices. I'd also mention Odysseus' cleansing of his home at the end of Bk22 using sulphur to remove religious pollution.

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Women - I'd keep this point brief because it's easy to get carried away, but you can talk about the gender roles in ancient society, shown through the number of times women are seen carrying out domestic tasks such as weaving (Helen, Penelope, even Calypso) and washing clothes (Nausicaa). There's also an expectation of modesty and loyalty to husbands. Helen refers to herself as a 'shameful creature' for being blinded by love, and Agamemnon spends a long time rebuking women as a whole for being unfaithful in Bk11. Penelope is a good example of a model woman; she delays remarrying with deceit, veils herself in front of the suitors and often weeps for Odysseus.

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Attitudes towards war - The Aeneid in general is quite anti-war, it's portrayed very negatively because it's main purpose is glorifying Augustus, who famously shut the Gates of Janus and brought peace (Pax) to Rome. For this point, you can mention Jupiter's prophecy that the gates of war will be closed. You could also discuss how war is shown negatively through the death of youths in the epic, and how hard Aeneas tries to avoid it. He begins offerings of peace and attempts to become allies with the Latins almost immediately after arriving in Italy.

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Furor vs Severitas - Furor is very much a heroic-age virtue, and it's definitely discouraged/presented as inferior to severitas in the epic. It's something that Augustus really pushed as a Roman virtue, examples would be the simile of a single man quieting an angry, furor-driven crowd as Neptune flattens the sea. Also, Aeneas breaking out of his state of furor at the death of Lausus and honouring him for his sacrifice compared to Turnus' gloating over Pallas. This also brings up the idea of clemency, a quality that's really strongly attributed to Julius Caesar through his forgiveness of Pompey, and willingness to pardon those who asked for mercy. Anything anti-furor in the epic shows that Rome had it's own celebrated virtues and focused a lot more on rationality. If you do the L&R module, you can drop in a reference to stoicism 🙂

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Pietas, particularly father/son relationships - Massive massive part of Roman culture, the bond between father and son was really important. There was an expectation for fathers to nurture and teach sons, and in return, a son would take care of his father when he was no longer able to take care of himself. Aeneas and Anchises are the biggest example, you have Aeneas totally unwilling to leave his father behind at Troy, putting on his armour to go back out and fight. He also carries him as they flee, which again shows his responsibility to take care of his father. You can also speak about Aeneas and Ascanius, without Ascanius, Aeneas' fatherly love 'allowed him no rest' without his son. Of course you have other examples in Pallas/Evander, Mezentius/Lausus.

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Women - This point would focus on the portrayal of women within the epic, and how that relates to Augustus' views and demands of Roman women. You can mention the Julian laws and focus on the role of women as mothers and not adulterers driven by lust. Dido is infected by love, though not her own fault, she neglects Carthage and prevents the city from functioning. Creusa and Lavinia would be examples of moral women

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Gods/Religion - As with the Odyssey, you can address the importance of the Gods to the epic and also Roman society. You could mention in particular the household Gods, including Hestia/Vesta passed to Aeneas by Hector in Bk2, as they have a much greater role in Roman society than Greek.

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The underworld/death - Again similar to the Odyssey, the Aeneid shows the culture surrounding death and burial in society. Dido's suicide stands out, though the act of her suicide would have been quite divisive (honourable or not), you can argue that it aids her misery in the Fields of Mourning in the underworld/Virgil warns against it. Aeneas sees Tartarus, but also Elysium, a paradise for heroes after death. From this, you can also address the process of purifying/cleansing souls to be reborn again through Anchises showing Aeneas future Romans.