There is a very wide range of literature available to us in Latin – plays, epic poetry, love poetry, satire, lyric poetry, speeches, annals, biographies, comedies, tragedies and more. There is clearly a great advantage in being able to read this in the original language as it provides a true insight into the authors themselves.
The course content for Latin ensures that you study many aspects of the ancient world and its relevance to the world today. For those who love studying the language and ancient cultures, Latin at GCSE is a must. Being able to read the literature of our most important forebears gives a real insight into our own literature, culture and heritage.
However, the study of Latin at all levels is so much more than simply the study of a language rich in literature, for the subject incorporates every facet of a powerful civilisation – its history, its culture, the structure of its society, its politics, its values, its religions and its philosophy. We can learn everything about the Romans from the organisation of their army, the Senate, the Republic and the Empire, to the ways in which they entertained themselves.
AS and A2 include the reading of speeches by Cicero, the passionate poetry of the young Catullus, Roman history and the epic poetry of Ovid.
A knowledge of the language itself has many benefits, including giving us a far greater knowledge and understanding of our own language, and the strictly grammatical structure aids logic and facilitates the learning of many modern foreign languages. Latin can help in the understanding of scientific and medical terminology and can be an enjoyable, as well as useful, AS subject for anyone studying no other arts subjects.
To read more about Latin AS and A2 click here
