Certificate in Latin Literature

Basic structure

Candidates enter two of:

• Themed Latin literature

• Narrative Latin literature

• Teacher’s choice of literature (via Controlled Assessment)

List of units available

9531/9541 Latin Literature Themes Level 1 or 2

9532/9542 Latin Literature Narratives Level 1 or 2

9533/9543 Latin Literature Study 1 Level 1 or 2

9534/9544 Latin Literature Study 2 Level 1 or 2

Rules of unit combination:

These are necessary to prevent candidates from submitting controlled assessment on the same text they have prepared for a written paper.

Study 1 excludes texts set for Literature Themes.

Study 2 excludes texts set for Literature Narratives.

Latin Literature Themes

• Choice between two themes.

• Level 2: approx. 120 lines of Latin literature, comprised of extracts on a common theme.

• Mixture of prose and verse.

• Open book: candidate is supplied with the full text and vocabulary in the examination.

• Level 1: half the corresponding Level 2 text in Latin, half in English.

• Borderline candidates: may enter Level 1 and Level 2 in the same examination series.

Latin Literature Themes

Theme A: otium (Passages from the Cambridge Latin Anthology) MARTIAL: The good life (Epigrams V.20)

HORACE: The pleasures of country life (Epodes II.1-8, 23-8)

CATULLUS Catullus invites a friend to dinner (Carmina 13)

OVID: A good place to find a girl (Ars Amatoria 1.89-100) How ordinary people enjoy a festival (Fasti III.523-40)

PLINY: A day in the life of Pliny the Elder (Letters 3.5.9-16: extracts) Ummidia Quadratilla (Letters 7.24: extracts)

Theme B: Love and Marriage anon. Epitaph to Claudia (dated c.150 BC) (C.I.L. 1.2.1211)

CICERO: Letter to his friend Atticus (ad Att. 5.1)

CATULLUS: Five poems (Carmina 5, 8, 70, 72, 83)

OVID: Advice to a rejected lover (Ars Amatoria 1.469-478)

MARTIAL: Marital equality? (Epigrams 8.12)

PLINY: To Calpurnia Hispulla, his wife’s aunt (Letters 4.19) Faithful unto death (Letters 6.24)

Latin Literature Narratives

• Choice between two narrative texts: either prose, or verse.

• Level 2: approx.120 lines of a single text.

• Open book: candidate is supplied with the full text and vocabulary in the examination.

• Level 1: half the corresponding Level 2 text in Latin, half in English.

• Borderline candidates: may enter Level 1 and Level 2 in the same examination series.

Latin Literature Narratives

Section A: Tacitus (adapted), Nero et Agrippina

Section B: Virgil, Aeneid 2, lines 13-62 and 195-267

Controlled assessment: approach - 1

Teaching the text

• Either candidates prepare the texts prescribed for the equivalent written paper,

• or the teacher makes own choice of text (or group of texts) of approximately the same length as the equivalent written paper (examples on next slide).

• L2: approx. 120 lines

L1: approx. 60 lines in Latin + 60 lines in translation

• Teacher teaches the text in exactly the same way as for a written paper.

Controlled assessment: acceptable texts

• Any original texts from the 3nd century BC to the 3rd century AD

• Adapted or unadapted texts selected from:

The Cambridge Latin AnthologyCupid and PsycheEcce Scriptores RomaniIntroducing CiceroThe Millionaire’s Dinner PartyThe Oxford Latin ReaderTwo Centuries of Roman PoetryTwo Centuries of Roman Prose.

• Another text or anthology by written agreement with the WJEC Subject Officer for Latin.

Controlled assessment: approach - 2

Choosing the assignments

• The teacher and candidate identify:

(i) a passage of 10-15 lines of Latin for close analysis;

(ii) a wider selection/the whole text for thematic discussion (see examples on next slide.)

• The teacher and candidate agree on questions for the two tasks above.

• It is preferable (though not compulsory) for candidates from the same Centre to choose different Latin passages and different essay titles.

Controlled assessment: approach – examples of titlesFor close analysis

‘In what ways does […..] make this an exciting/disturbing/moving passage?’ Refer to details of the Latin in your answer.

‘We learn more about Catullus than Lesbia from this poem.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement, and why?You should refer to details of the Latin in your answer.

Thematic discussion

Which author – Catullus or Ovid – approaches the theme of love in a more interesting way? Give reasons for your choice. You shouldillustrate your answer with Latin from the poems of both authors.

What impression of Verres do you get from reading Cicero? In what ways does Cicero use his literary skills to create this impression?

‘Pliny is only really interested in writing about himself.’ To what extent is this a fair judgment on his literary output?

Controlled assessment: approach - 3

Preparing for the submissions

• Candidates have up to 10 hours of study time

• May use texts, vocabularies, dictionaries, and secondary sources (including translations).

• All class work or a combination of class work and homework.

• There should be no formal teaching at this time.

• Any notes made by the candidate should be collected and kept by the teacher, to be made available to the Moderator, if requested.

Controlled assessment: approach - 4

Writing the submissions

• Candidates have up to 4 hours in controlled conditions to write their final submissions.

• They may have with them an unmarked copy of the full text they have studied, together with a vocabulary/dictionary - but no further notes.

• The 4 hours may be split into shorter sessions, but any work produced must be kept safe by the teacher and no new material may be brought in to subsequent sessions.

Controlled assessment: approach - 5

Marking the submissions

• Teachers assess the written tasks using the Assessment Grids provided.

• If more than one teacher is involved, internal moderation takes place between them.

• A sample of candidates’ work will be requested to be sent to WJEC for moderation - consisting of the written answers, a copy of the text(s) studied, and the controlled assessment coversheet.

• Any notes made by the candidate should be retained by the teacher, to be made available to the Moderator, if requested.

Differences from GCSE

• Thematic and Narrative papers ][ prose and verse

• Allows wider choice of authors

• ‘Open book’ examination + vocabulary available

• No translation of chunks of set texts

• Option of Controlled Assessment

• Even choosing your own set texts!

• Free support from CSCP: texts, notes, vocab etc

• Level 1: same literature, but partly in translation

Delivery possibilities

Schools may wish to prepare candidates only for the Certificate in Latin Literature.

More commonly

Years 1 and 2: language/language & civilisation course, culminating in Certificate in Latin Language or Latin Language and Roman Civilisation.

Year 3, or Years 3 - 4: further language teaching and preparation for Certificate in Latin Literature.