Oxford Cambridge and RSA
May 2026 – Afternoon
A Level Classical Civilisation
H408/21 Greek Theatre
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 75.
• 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 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
OCR A Level Classical Civilisation Greek Theatre (H408/21) Question Paper And
Mark Scheme
, 2
Section A
Start your answer to each 10, 20 and 30 mark question on a new page.
Source A
Bell krater by McDaniel Painter
Figure 1
1 State the name of Figure 1. [1]
2 What is the technical name given to the building shown in Source A? [1]
3 Analyse how useful Source A is in telling us how a comedy by Aristophanes might originally have been
staged. [10]
© OCR 2025 H408/21 Jun25
, 3
Source B
Aristophanes’ Frogs 33–56
XANTHIAS Ah woe is me, poor wretch! Why didn’t I fight in that sea-battle! Then I
could tell you to bugger off.
DIONYSUS Get down, you idiot. My journey’s taken me right up to this door here, my
first destination.
Slave, I say, slave, slave! 5
HERACLES Who’s that battering the door, flinging himself at it like a centaur? Who
the…say, what is all this?
DIONYSUS Slave.
XANTHIAS What is it?
DIONYSUS Did you notice that? 10
XANTHIAS Notice what exactly?
DIONYSUS How scared he was of me.
XANTHIAS Oh, yes, by Zeus – scared that you’re a maniac.
HERACLES By Demeter, I just can’t stop laughing. I’m biting my lip, but I just can’t
help myself. 15
DIONYSUS My good chap, step forward. I have a favour to ask of you.
HERACLES I can’t stop laughing – look at that lionskin on top of your little yellow
number. What’s the idea? Why these boots and club? Where on earth were
you heading?
DIONYSUS I was sailing with Cleisthenes. 20
HERACLES You fought at sea?
XANTHIAS Yes, and sank – oh, must have been twelve or thirteen enemy ships.
HERACLES The two of you?
DIONYSUS Yes, by Apollo.
XANTHIAS In your dreams… 25
DIONYSUS And while I was on board, reading Andromeda to myself, a sudden desire
filled my heart – you wouldn’t believe how strong it was.
HERACLES Desire? What kind of desire?
DIONYSUS Just a little one – the size of Molon.
4 What was the sea-battle referred to in line 1? [1]
5 Who was Cleisthenes (line 20)? [1]
6 What was the sudden desire (lines 26 and 27) felt by Dionysus? [1]
7 How successfully does Aristophanes make the scene in Source B an effective piece of comic drama? [10]
8* ‘When it was first produced, Aristophanes’ Frogs was a success because of what the audience heard,
rather than what the audience saw.’
Evaluate how far you agree with this statement. [20]
You may use Source(s) A and/or B as a starting point in your answer.
© OCR 2025
May 2026 – Afternoon
A Level Classical Civilisation
H408/21 Greek Theatre
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 75.
• 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 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
OCR A Level Classical Civilisation Greek Theatre (H408/21) Question Paper And
Mark Scheme
, 2
Section A
Start your answer to each 10, 20 and 30 mark question on a new page.
Source A
Bell krater by McDaniel Painter
Figure 1
1 State the name of Figure 1. [1]
2 What is the technical name given to the building shown in Source A? [1]
3 Analyse how useful Source A is in telling us how a comedy by Aristophanes might originally have been
staged. [10]
© OCR 2025 H408/21 Jun25
, 3
Source B
Aristophanes’ Frogs 33–56
XANTHIAS Ah woe is me, poor wretch! Why didn’t I fight in that sea-battle! Then I
could tell you to bugger off.
DIONYSUS Get down, you idiot. My journey’s taken me right up to this door here, my
first destination.
Slave, I say, slave, slave! 5
HERACLES Who’s that battering the door, flinging himself at it like a centaur? Who
the…say, what is all this?
DIONYSUS Slave.
XANTHIAS What is it?
DIONYSUS Did you notice that? 10
XANTHIAS Notice what exactly?
DIONYSUS How scared he was of me.
XANTHIAS Oh, yes, by Zeus – scared that you’re a maniac.
HERACLES By Demeter, I just can’t stop laughing. I’m biting my lip, but I just can’t
help myself. 15
DIONYSUS My good chap, step forward. I have a favour to ask of you.
HERACLES I can’t stop laughing – look at that lionskin on top of your little yellow
number. What’s the idea? Why these boots and club? Where on earth were
you heading?
DIONYSUS I was sailing with Cleisthenes. 20
HERACLES You fought at sea?
XANTHIAS Yes, and sank – oh, must have been twelve or thirteen enemy ships.
HERACLES The two of you?
DIONYSUS Yes, by Apollo.
XANTHIAS In your dreams… 25
DIONYSUS And while I was on board, reading Andromeda to myself, a sudden desire
filled my heart – you wouldn’t believe how strong it was.
HERACLES Desire? What kind of desire?
DIONYSUS Just a little one – the size of Molon.
4 What was the sea-battle referred to in line 1? [1]
5 Who was Cleisthenes (line 20)? [1]
6 What was the sudden desire (lines 26 and 27) felt by Dionysus? [1]
7 How successfully does Aristophanes make the scene in Source B an effective piece of comic drama? [10]
8* ‘When it was first produced, Aristophanes’ Frogs was a success because of what the audience heard,
rather than what the audience saw.’
Evaluate how far you agree with this statement. [20]
You may use Source(s) A and/or B as a starting point in your answer.
© OCR 2025
