Latin - Leaving Certificate Syllabus - Department of Education and

20 Pages·2007·0.11 MB·English

1. LATIN
Ordinary Level Course
(a) Composition (i.e. sentences).

(b) Formal Grammar (including scansion confined to the Elegiac Couplet and the
Hexameter).

(c) Prescribed Texts:- 2009

Livy, Book XXX, (Chapters 9 – 17; 19-23; 29-37)
or
Virgil, Aeneid, Book II (Lines 1 – 506).

(d) Unprescribed text:

Two passages from the works of the following authors*:-
Cicero (Orationes), Caesar, Livy, Virgil (Aeneid), Ovid.

(e) History (including Art and Literature):
The period from the death of Caesar to the death of Trajan.
Candidates will be expected to have studied Roman art and architecture within the
prescribed period, under such headings as: patronage, portrait sculpture, murals,
mosaics, historical reliefs, (e.g. the Ara Pacis and Trajan’s Column), the Roman
house, roads, arches, bridges, aqueducts, basilicas, amphitheatres, public
buildings, temples.

Questions will also be set on the life, works and literary importance of Latin
authors from the prescribed history period (including Caesar and Cicero) and, in
addition, Catullus.
Candidates will be required to answer three questions and to choose at least one
from each section – (i) Roman history (ii) Roman art and literature.
Higher Level Course
(a) Composition (continuous prose).

(b) Formal Grammar (including scansion confined to the Elegiac Couplet, the
Hexameter, the Sapphic and the Alcaic).

(c) Prescribed texts:
As for Ordinary Level Course.

(d) Unprescribed text:
Three passages from the works of the following authors:-
Cicero (Orationes), Caesar, Livy, Virgil (Aeneid), Ovid, Sallust, Horace
(Odes), Catullus.

(e) History (including Art and Literature):
As for Ordinary Level Course.

* The list of authors given is an indication of the range of suitable material.
Four passages will be set on the Ordinary Level paper, two passages of prose and two of
verse. Candidates will be required to translate two of these four passages, one of prose
and one of verse.
On the Higher Level paper candidates will be required to select three out of four passages
set.
Vocabulary aid will be provided in the case of all unprescribed passages appearing on the
examination papers.
Allocation of Marks
Ordinary Level Course

Translation into Latin (5 sentences) 75
Prescribed text (prose or verse)
Translation ………………………………. 60 }
Subsidiary questions (3 ex 5)……………… 30 ) 90

Named authors (2 passages ex 4) …………………………. 130

Grammar and Scansion:
Two questions on grammar ………………. 20 }
One question on scansion …………………. 10 } 30

History, Art and Literature:
(3 questions ex 6) = (25 x 3) …………………….. 75

Higher Level Course

Translation into Latin ……………………………………. 75

Prescribed text (prose or verse)
Translation ……………………………… 60 }
Subsidiary questions (3 x 5) ……………… 30 } 90

Named authors (3 passages ex 4)…………………………. 130
Grammar and scansion :
Two questions on grammar **…………… 20}
One question on scansion ………………… 10} 30

History, Art and Literature:
(3 questions ex 6) = (25 x 3)……………………….. 75
N.B. – In the 1989 Leaving Certificate Examination and thereafter, candidates at both
levels will have the choice in Question 1 of the examination paper, either (a) of
translation into Latin, as at present or (b) of answering a series of comprehension
questions, on a passage of unprescribed Latin prose. Each of the two sections will carry
75 marks.

Prescribed Texts

N.B. See prescribed Material for year of examination
______________________________________________________________________________________
** One of the questions will require the writing of notes on points of grammar occurring
in a sentence. The points on which comment will be required will be underlined. The
second question will follow the format of the grammar questions on the Ordinary Level
paper (principal parts of verbs, etc.) but will be more testing.
2. ANCIENT GREEK
Ordinary Level Course
(a) Scansion (confined to the lambic Trimeter and the Hexameter).
(b) Prescribed texts (2008) :-
The Joint Association of Classical Teachers’ (J.A.C.T.) Greek Course:
Reading Greek – Text. (Published by the Cambridge University Press) – Sections
Fourteen to Nineteen (inclusive).

N.B. (1) Sections One to Thirteen (inclusive) must be read as an essential
preparation for study of the prescribed sections, and for translating unseen text. (2)
The companion volume, Reading Greek Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises is an
essential part of the J.A.C.T. Greek Course and must be used in conjunction with
“Reading Greek Text”, in accordance with the instructions given in the Prefaces to
both volumes

(c) Unprescribed text:
Three passages from the works of the following authors†:-
Xenophon, Thucydides, Homer, Euripides, the Four Gospels and the Acts of the
Apostles.

(d) History (including Art and Literature):
(i) The period from the beginning of the Peloponnesian War to the death of
Alexander the Great.
Questions of a general nature will also be set on Athenian and Spartan
constitutional history and institutions, from their origin to the end of the fifth
century B.C.

(ii) Literary questions of a general nature will be set on the life and works
(including their relevant background) of the major Greek authors from Homer to
Aristotle.
A study should also be made of the art of the Greeks.
Questions of a general nature will be set and candidates will be expected, through
the use of film strips and modern illustrations, to have an acquaintance with
examples of sculpture, archaic and classical (including architectural sculpture),
the architecture of temples, and Attic black and red figure vase paintings.

________________________________________________________________________
†The list of authors given is an indication of the range of suitable material.

Four passages will be set on the Ordinary Level paper and candidates will be required to
translate three of these four passages. On the Higher Level paper candidates will be
required to select three out of four passages set.

Vocabulary aid will be provided in the case of all unprescribed passages appearing on the
examination papers.
From the questions set in this section of the examination paper candidates will be
required to answer three, and at least one of the three will be chosen from (i) and
from (ii).

Higher Level Course
(a) Translation into Greek from an idiomatic passage in the vernacular
(b) Scansion (confined to lambic Trimeter, the Hexameter and Trochaic Tetrameter).
(c) Prescribed texts:
The Joint Association of Classical Teachers (J.A.C.T.) Greek Course: The
Intellectual Revolution (Published by Cambridge University Press) – Pages 60 –
95, inclusive. (Selections, in Greek and in translation, from Thucydides, Books 6,
7 and 8)
or
The Joint Association of Classical Teachers (J.A.C.T.) Greek Course: A World of
Heroes, (Published by Cambridge University Press) – Pages 100 – 139, inclusive.
(Selections in Greek and in translation, from Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus).
(d) Unprescribed text:
Three passages from the works of the following authors:-
Xenophon, Thucydides, Homer, Euripides, the Four Gospels and the Acts of the
Apostles, the works of Sophocles and Plato (simpler dialogues), Herodotus.

(e) History (including Art and Literature):
As for Ordinary Level Course.

Allocation of marks
Ordinary Level
(a) Prescribed Text:
Translation ……………………. 60}
} ………. 100
Questions ……………………… 40}
(b) Named authors and works: (70x3) ……………….. 210
(c) History, Art and Literature: (30x3) ……………… 90
Higher Level
(a) Translation into Greek …………………………….. 50
(b) Prescribed text:
Translation …………………… 50 }
} ……….. 80
Questions …………………….. 30 }
(c) Named authors and works: (60x3) …………………….. 180
(d) History, Art, Literature: (30x3) ………………………… 90

The following are the prescribed texts for the Leaving Certificate Examination 2008:-

Ordinary Course

The prescribed texts for 2008 are the same as for 2007

Higher Level
N. B. In the 1998 Leaving Certificate Examination and thereafter, candidates at Higher
Level will have the choice, in Question 1 of the examination paper, either (a) of doing
translation into Greek, as at present, or (b) of answering a series of comprehension
questions on a passage of unprescribed Greek prose. Each of the two sections will carry
50 marks.
3. CLASSICAL STUDIES
Ordinary and Higher Level Courses

The general aim of these courses is to pursue the aims of the Intermediate Certificate
Course at a level appropriate to the needs of senior post-primary pupils. Teachers are
advised to note the introduction to the Intermediate Certificate Course in Classical
Studies. A Classics library should be built up gradually, while the resources of local
libraries ought to be utilised as far as possible.

A memorandum containing additional notes on the treatment of topics in the syllabus,
together with booklists et al., may be obtained form the Department of Education and
Science Post-Primary Branch, Floor 3, Hawkins House, Dublin 2.

The fundamental unit of each course is the topic. Teachers are referred to the
Intermediate Certificate Course, Section III: Notes for the guidance of teachers, 1, where
advice on the treatment of topics is offered.

Ten topics, common to both courses, are prescribed for examination. These topics are
arranged in three groups as follows:-
Group 1: Topics (1-4);
Group II: Topics (5-7);
Group III: Topics (8-10).

Candidates are required to answer questions on four topics in the examination, taking at
least one topic from each group.

LIST OF TOPICS
GROUP 1:
Topic 1. Athens at War.
Ordinary Level Prescribed Matter: The Peloponnesian War, (Thucydides), Penguin
Classics, the following sections:-
Book 1: Chs. 1-23; 31-55; 66-68; 139-146.
Book 2: Chs. 1-27; 31; 34-65; 70-78.
Book 3: Chs. 1-28; 36-50; 52-68;
Book 4: Chs. 2-23; 26-41; 78-101; 117-118.
Book 5: Chs. 2-26; 43; 63-75; 84-116.
Book 6: Chs. 6; 8-32; 42-53; 60-73; 88-93; 96-104.
Book 7: Chs. 1-8; 10-19; 21-25; 27-28; 36-56; 59-87

Higher Level Prescribed Matter: As for the Ordinary Course with the addition of the
following:-

Book 8: Chs. 1-2; 37; 47-49; 53-54; 65-77; 81-86; 89-97; 104-106.

The major aim of this topic is to examine the course of the Peloponnesian War and to
understand its effect on Athenian society and politics as recorded by Thucydides. Events
in the war which seriously affect life in the city e.g. the Plague and the Sicilian
Expedition, should be given a special emphasis. Particular attention should be paid to
Thucydides as a historian.

Topic 2. Alexander the Great
Ordinary Level Prescribed Matter: The Campaigns of Alexander (Arrian), Penguin
Classics.

Higher Level Prescribed Matter: As for the Ordinary Course, with the addition of the
Life of Alexander, contained in the Age of Alexander (Plutarch), Penguin Classics.

The major aim of this topic is a study of the character and achievements of Alexander as
portrayed by his biographers. Some appreciation of the following will also be expected:
earlier Greek contacts with the Persian Empire; the special nature of Macedonian society;
the Macedonian war-machine; the subsequent impact of Alexander’s empire.

Topic 3 Life and Thought in the Late Roman Republic.