GCSE Latin: About Paper 2
Time allowed is 1 hours 15 minutes [75 minutes]. Total marks available: 60.
A minimum of two verse pieces will be set, but there may be a part of a question which requires an overview of the themes of other set texts, e.g. "Compare the message of this poem with what you have read in other poems about attitudes to love and courtship."
The verse texts on which questions are set are printed in the exam paper, but without the vocabulary help or the editorial titles given in the anthology. The autour of the poem is given, with the line numbers of the piece if it is an extract from a larger work, i.e. "Orpheus and Eurydice," "Alcyone and Ceyx" and possibly "Spring and thoughts of Mortality." You will not be asked to identify the poem, to give the poets dates, to scan any lines for its meatre or specifically to name its metrical scheme.
Each part of a question is likely to carry between one and five marks. You can expect questions of the following types to be set on each extract:
- [for one or two marks] With reference to the Latin, pick out an expression which indicates a given emotion or reaction, e.g. humour, sympathy, affection, discouragement.
- Short-answer questions [probably for one to three marks] requiring understanding of specific words or features in the verse, e.g. "With what is X compared with in lines Y-Z? How is the comparison effective?"; "Explain why X is described as ABC."
- Translate a specific passage [of about four lines, for about five marks]. Write your translation on alternate lines; this instruction will appear in the question.
- Explain how the sound, rhythm, choice or position of words helps to make the scene more vivid. The question will probably specify how many examples you should give, probably two or three [probably for two or three marks]. As well as giving the examples, you must make some comment on their effect e.g. "the succession os heavy syllables suggests excertion", "the alliteration of s suggests chattering."
- An evaluate question [for about four marks], e.g.:
- Do you think the souls in Elysium are happy to be there?
- Is Lucretius sympathising with the mourners?
- Do you agree with Horace's outlook on the passing seasons?
- Did Orpheus/Alcyone deserve this fate?
If shorter poems are selected, you may be asked to state similarities and differences between the poems. Relevant points may be:
- Who is being addressed? (a general audience, or an individual?)
- Themes which are common to both, or emphasised in one
- The sentiments expressed (optimism/pessimism, harshness/warmth, hope of love/fear of rejection)
- Common, or differing "likes" and "dislikes"
Be sure to give, if asked, points of similarity and difference.
- Do you think the souls in Elysium are happy to be there?
- Is Lucretius sympathising with the mourners?
- Do you agree with Horace's outlook on the passing seasons?
- Did Orpheus/Alcyone deserve this fate?