2025 OCR GCSE Classical Greek
J292/02 Prose Literature A
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme
Combined
Thursday 22 May 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Classical Greek
J292/02 Prose Literature A
Time allowed: 1 hour
Do not use:
a dictionary
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined page at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 12 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/8123/0]
OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (DE) 349688/2
Turn over
, 2
1 Read the passage and answer the questions.
© Herodotus, edited by Farnell & Goff, Tales from Herodotus, pages 30-33; 39-41; 42-45, Bristol Classical Press, 2002. From first line "ἐνταῦθα οὗτοι μὲν λόγον εἶχον τῆς πολιορκίας οὐδένα" to last line "εἰσιέναι ταύτῃ εἰς τὴν πόλιν." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
(a) ἐνταῦθα … οὐδένα (line 1): how did the Babylonians feel about the siege?
................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) τάξας τὴν στρατιὰν … ὁ ποταµός (lines 2–3): how did Cyrus arrange his forces?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) προεῖπε τῷ στρατῷ … εἰς τὴν πόλιν (lines 4–5): what instructions did he give to his army?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [3]
© OCR
2025
, 3
2 Read the passage and answer the question.
© Herodotus, edited by Farnell & Goff, Tales from Herodotus, pages 30-33; 39-41; 42-45, Bristol Classical Press, 2002. From first line "νῦν δὲ ἐξ ἀπροσδοκήτου αὐτοῖς παρέστησαν οἱ Πέρσαι." to last line "εἰς ὃ δὴ καὶ τὸ ἀληθὲς ἐπύθοντο." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
How does Herodotus, by his use of language, show that the Babylonians were taken by surprise?
You should make two points, each supported by close reference to the Greek.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR Turn over
2025
, 4
3 Read the passage and answer the questions.
© Herodotus, edited by Farnell & Goff, Tales from Herodotus, pages 30-33; 39-41; 42-45, Bristol Classical Press, 2002. From first line "Δαρείῳ δὲ καὶ δεινὸν ἐδόκει εἶναι ταῖς πύλαις ταύταις μηδὲν χρῆσθαι καί" to last line "οὐκ ἂν νεκρῶν θήκας ἀνέῳγες.’" Item removed due to third party copyright restrict
(a) ταῖς πύλαις ταύταις (line 1): from the section before this passage, give one detail that
Herodotus has already told us about the tomb above these gates.
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) ταῖς δὲ πύλαις … διεξελαύνοντι (lines 2– 4): why did Darius not make use of the gates?
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) ἀνοίξας … ἀνέῳγες (lines 4–6): what did Darius find when he opened the tomb?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(d) How do you think Darius felt when he discovered what was in the tomb? Give a reason for
your answer.
................................................................................................................................................
..........
................................................................................................................................................
..........
................................................................................................................................................
..........
.................................................................................................................................. [2]
© OCR
2025
J292/02 Prose Literature A
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme
Combined
Thursday 22 May 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Classical Greek
J292/02 Prose Literature A
Time allowed: 1 hour
Do not use:
a dictionary
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined page at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 12 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/8123/0]
OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (DE) 349688/2
Turn over
, 2
1 Read the passage and answer the questions.
© Herodotus, edited by Farnell & Goff, Tales from Herodotus, pages 30-33; 39-41; 42-45, Bristol Classical Press, 2002. From first line "ἐνταῦθα οὗτοι μὲν λόγον εἶχον τῆς πολιορκίας οὐδένα" to last line "εἰσιέναι ταύτῃ εἰς τὴν πόλιν." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
(a) ἐνταῦθα … οὐδένα (line 1): how did the Babylonians feel about the siege?
................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) τάξας τὴν στρατιὰν … ὁ ποταµός (lines 2–3): how did Cyrus arrange his forces?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) προεῖπε τῷ στρατῷ … εἰς τὴν πόλιν (lines 4–5): what instructions did he give to his army?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [3]
© OCR
2025
, 3
2 Read the passage and answer the question.
© Herodotus, edited by Farnell & Goff, Tales from Herodotus, pages 30-33; 39-41; 42-45, Bristol Classical Press, 2002. From first line "νῦν δὲ ἐξ ἀπροσδοκήτου αὐτοῖς παρέστησαν οἱ Πέρσαι." to last line "εἰς ὃ δὴ καὶ τὸ ἀληθὲς ἐπύθοντο." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
How does Herodotus, by his use of language, show that the Babylonians were taken by surprise?
You should make two points, each supported by close reference to the Greek.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR Turn over
2025
, 4
3 Read the passage and answer the questions.
© Herodotus, edited by Farnell & Goff, Tales from Herodotus, pages 30-33; 39-41; 42-45, Bristol Classical Press, 2002. From first line "Δαρείῳ δὲ καὶ δεινὸν ἐδόκει εἶναι ταῖς πύλαις ταύταις μηδὲν χρῆσθαι καί" to last line "οὐκ ἂν νεκρῶν θήκας ἀνέῳγες.’" Item removed due to third party copyright restrict
(a) ταῖς πύλαις ταύταις (line 1): from the section before this passage, give one detail that
Herodotus has already told us about the tomb above these gates.
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) ταῖς δὲ πύλαις … διεξελαύνοντι (lines 2– 4): why did Darius not make use of the gates?
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) ἀνοίξας … ἀνέῳγες (lines 4–6): what did Darius find when he opened the tomb?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(d) How do you think Darius felt when he discovered what was in the tomb? Give a reason for
your answer.
................................................................................................................................................
..........
................................................................................................................................................
..........
................................................................................................................................................
..........
.................................................................................................................................. [2]
© OCR
2025
