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Classical Studies undergraduate modules

Sub-Honours (20 credits each)

  Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1 CL1004 Myth and Community in Ancient Greek Literature and Culture
This module explores some of the most dynamic literary and artistic achievements of archaic and classical Greek culture. Using a twin focus on myth and on ideas of community, the module ranges across Homeric epic, Athenian tragedy, Aristophanic comedy, and the writings of intellectuals; it studies the relationship between texts and images in the expression of cultural values; and it examines a series of major themes in Greek views of identity, morality, politics and religion.   		 CL1005 Images of Augustan Rome
This module studies a range of literary works that were written during the lifetime of the first emperor, Augustus, and that react in different ways to the new regime that he established. A central theme of the module is the development of the architecture and public art of the city of Rome during this period, and the different ways in which the city features in the literature of the time.
Year 2 CL2004 Culture and Thought in the Late Roman Republic
From the seething passions of Catullus' poetry, through Lucretius' poetic treatise On the Nature of Things, to the stylish rhetoric of Cicero, the module aims to set the main literary texts of the Late Roman Republic against the broader backdrop of Roman art, culture and social life. All prescribed texts will be studied in translation.		 CL2003 Early Greek Poetry and Philosophy
This course aims to give an understanding of other great genres of early Greek poetry (excluding Homer and drama), such as Hesiod's didactic poetry and the lyric poetry of Sappho and Alcaeus. We also consider the earliest Greek philosopher-poets, such as Xenophanes and Empedocles, whose works present an exciting combination of literary and philosophical innovation.

First level

These two modules assume no previous knowledge of the ancient world; all students are eligible to take one or both of them. They are normally taught in 3 one-hour lectures per week, together with tutorial meetings in small groups in which topics are discussed relating to work prepared or submitted. Students are expected to submit 2 essays and to sit a 2 hour examination for each module.

Second level

At 2000 level there is one Greek module and one Roman module. They may be taken either singly or in series. The aim is to broaden students' knowledge of ancient literature through the study of prescribed texts, particularly poetry and history, and to introduce them to the philosophical heritage of the ancient world.

For these modules there are normally 2 lectures and one discussion group (6 to 8 students) per week. For each module students typically produce 1 essay and 3 gobbet answers, and sit a 2 hour examination.

Honours modules

See  Honours booklet (PDF, 743 KB) for more details.

Teaching at this level is also shared between tutorials, seminars, and lectures, some of them held jointly with students of Greek, Latin and Ancient History. A wide range of modules is offered, modified or supplemented from time to time.

  • Students taking Honours in Classical Studies take seven modules from a wide selection and in their final year write a dissertation.
  • Those taking joint Honours with Classical Studies offer a variant on this scheme.

At Honours level Classical Studies may be taken either on its own (Single Honours) or with another subject (Joint Honours). The modules available include modules based on literary genres, studied in both their Greek and Roman forms, modules in which the literature and history of a period are studied side by side, modules which investigate aspects of the ancient world (such as science, gender or religion) and modules based on important aspects of ancient history and archaeology. Students may begin the study of a classical language, though this is not compulsory and not required for any of the modules on offer.

Modules that may run in any year
subject to staff commitments and sufficient student interest

Classical studies

What the students say

"The Classics staff are very friendly and always accessible to students."

"The lectures are generally well delivered, and unlike many subjects the reading is a pleasure."

"All in all, if you are interested in gaining a good grounding in ancient thought and society, this course is extremely useful."

Undergraduate enquiries

All admissions queries should be sent to the University admissions department; they will forward relevant questions to our admissions officer.