lOMoARcPSD|11448692
OCR A’level Classical Civilisation
Component 11: The Odyssey
Booklet 1: summaries and initial tasks
Prescribed Books:
1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23
Translation used: EV Rieu (Penguin)
1
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Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
In all components of OCR’s A Level in Classical Civilisation Learners will be required to:
• understand, interpret, evaluate and analyse a range of evidence from classical sources in their social,
historical and cultural context
• evaluate and use this evidence to produce analytical responses, and effectively substantiated
judgements
• present these judgements in a clear, concise and logical manner
• develop your knowledge, skills and understanding over the two year linear A Level course to evaluate
with appropriate levels of sophistication, demonstrating a deep, complex understanding of the
literature, ideas and materials studied, as well as their cultural context
• (for A’level) only, to make use of knowledge and understanding of relevant secondary scholars and
academics in order to further develop your analysis and argument.
Key knowledge and skills that you will be developing over the module
Key topics Knowledge/skills
Literary techniques and • structure and plot of the epic
composition
• language of the epic including the use of speeches, formulae,
similes and other narrative and descriptive techniques and their
effects
• literary context in which the Iliad was created and handed
down including:
• oral tradition and context
• transmission of the text
• whether it was the work of one or more poets
The heroic world: • concept, values and behaviour of a hero including the ideas of
characterisation and timē (honour) and kleos (reputation)
themes
• characterisation of major and minor characters
•nostos (homecoming)
• disguise
• recognition
• fantasy and the supernatural
2
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The social, cultural and • power of fate
religious context
• role of the immortals
• relationship between immortals and mortals
• justice and revenge
• hospitality and guest friendship (xenia)
• family
• relationships between men and women, parents and children
• part played by women in the epic and their position in society
• role of slaves
When studying literature • ways in which writers shape meanings in classical texts
learners will be required
to show knowledge and • ways in which classical texts might be interpreted by different
understanding of: readers or audiences both in an ancient and modern context
• ways in which classical texts relate to the historical, social,
political, religious and cultural contexts in which they are written
and received
• ways in which classical texts relate to literary traditions and
genres of the classical world.
When studying literature •respond critically to texts and consider how the attitudes and
you should be able to: values of the classical world or author are expressed
• apply their knowledge of cultural contexts to support,
substantiate and inform evidence-based judgements about the
classical texts
• use classical texts to demonstrate an understanding of the
social, historical and cultural context of the classical world, with
recognition, where appropriate, of the complex issues of
reliability and the difference between what a text might say and
what can be inferred from this
• critically explore and explain the possibility of different
responses to a text from different audiences, from the classical
period, up until the modern day.
The Odyssey: Books Summaries
Remember: Passages for the commentary questions will be selected from the prescribed texts. You
need to be aware of what happens in the other books, but you will not be directly assessed on
them.
Note about books 1-4: The Telemachy is a term traditionally applied to the first four books of the
Odyssey, so named because they tell the story of Odysseus' son Telemachus, as he journeys from
home for the first time in search of news about his missing father.
3
OCR A’level Classical Civilisation
Component 11: The Odyssey
Booklet 1: summaries and initial tasks
Prescribed Books:
1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23
Translation used: EV Rieu (Penguin)
1
, lOMoARcPSD|11448692
Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
In all components of OCR’s A Level in Classical Civilisation Learners will be required to:
• understand, interpret, evaluate and analyse a range of evidence from classical sources in their social,
historical and cultural context
• evaluate and use this evidence to produce analytical responses, and effectively substantiated
judgements
• present these judgements in a clear, concise and logical manner
• develop your knowledge, skills and understanding over the two year linear A Level course to evaluate
with appropriate levels of sophistication, demonstrating a deep, complex understanding of the
literature, ideas and materials studied, as well as their cultural context
• (for A’level) only, to make use of knowledge and understanding of relevant secondary scholars and
academics in order to further develop your analysis and argument.
Key knowledge and skills that you will be developing over the module
Key topics Knowledge/skills
Literary techniques and • structure and plot of the epic
composition
• language of the epic including the use of speeches, formulae,
similes and other narrative and descriptive techniques and their
effects
• literary context in which the Iliad was created and handed
down including:
• oral tradition and context
• transmission of the text
• whether it was the work of one or more poets
The heroic world: • concept, values and behaviour of a hero including the ideas of
characterisation and timē (honour) and kleos (reputation)
themes
• characterisation of major and minor characters
•nostos (homecoming)
• disguise
• recognition
• fantasy and the supernatural
2
, lOMoARcPSD|11448692
The social, cultural and • power of fate
religious context
• role of the immortals
• relationship between immortals and mortals
• justice and revenge
• hospitality and guest friendship (xenia)
• family
• relationships between men and women, parents and children
• part played by women in the epic and their position in society
• role of slaves
When studying literature • ways in which writers shape meanings in classical texts
learners will be required
to show knowledge and • ways in which classical texts might be interpreted by different
understanding of: readers or audiences both in an ancient and modern context
• ways in which classical texts relate to the historical, social,
political, religious and cultural contexts in which they are written
and received
• ways in which classical texts relate to literary traditions and
genres of the classical world.
When studying literature •respond critically to texts and consider how the attitudes and
you should be able to: values of the classical world or author are expressed
• apply their knowledge of cultural contexts to support,
substantiate and inform evidence-based judgements about the
classical texts
• use classical texts to demonstrate an understanding of the
social, historical and cultural context of the classical world, with
recognition, where appropriate, of the complex issues of
reliability and the difference between what a text might say and
what can be inferred from this
• critically explore and explain the possibility of different
responses to a text from different audiences, from the classical
period, up until the modern day.
The Odyssey: Books Summaries
Remember: Passages for the commentary questions will be selected from the prescribed texts. You
need to be aware of what happens in the other books, but you will not be directly assessed on
them.
Note about books 1-4: The Telemachy is a term traditionally applied to the first four books of the
Odyssey, so named because they tell the story of Odysseus' son Telemachus, as he journeys from
home for the first time in search of news about his missing father.
3
