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Preliminary Examination in Classics and English

A

  • 1. The Preliminary Examination in Classics and English shall be under the joint supervision of the Boards of the Faculties of Classics and English Language and Literature and shall consist of such subjects as they shall jointly by regulation prescribe.

B

Any candidate whose first language is not English may bring a bilingual (first language to English) dictionary for use in any examination paper where candidates are required to translate Ancient Greek and/or Latin texts into English.

(i) Candidates taking Classics and English with Beginners' Latin or Greek shall be required:

(a) during Trinity term of their first year of study to offer two papers that shall be examined by written examination:

1. Greek or Latin Texts: translation and comment

and

2. Greek or Latin Language: unseen translation and language questions

In order to proceed to year two, candidates must pass both papers. Candidates who fail either or both of papers 1 and 2 may resit the failed paper(s) at a subsequent examination in the Long Vacation following their first year of study.

(b) during Trinity term of their second year of study, to offer papers 1-5 as set out below.

(ii) Candidates taking Classics and English shall be required during Trinity term to offer papers 1-5 as set out below.

Paper 1 shall be examined by portfolio submission. Papers 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall be examined by written examinations.

  • 1. Introduction to English Language and Literature

    The paper will be examined by a portfolio of work, comprising one commentary answer and one discursive essay, of not fewer than 1,500 and not more than 2,000 words each. Footnotes will be included in the total word count, but bibliographies do not count towards the limit. The list of questions for this paper will be divided into Section A (Language) and B (Literature) and will be published on Monday of the fourth week of the Trinity Term of the first year. Candidates must select one question from Section A and one question from section B.

    Questions in Section A (Language) invite candidates to make their own selection of texts or passages of texts for commentary, in accordance with the terms of the particular question chosen. Copies of the texts or passages used must be included as an appendix to the portfolio. The combined length of all texts or passages chosen must not exceed 70 lines. The texts or passages used will not count towards the word limit for the commentary answer.

    The portfolio must be submitted using the University approved assessment platform, by noon on Thursday of the fifth week of the same Trinity Term.

    Following the publication of themes for this subject on Monday of the fourth week of Trinity Term, the candidate must neither discuss his or her choice of themes nor the method of handling them with any tutor. Every portfolio must be the work of the candidate alone, but he or she may discuss with his or her tutor the subjects and approach to the essays up until the stated publication date of the portfolio themes.

    Portfolios previously submitted for the First Public Examination in Classics and English may be resubmitted. No answer will be accepted that has already been submitted, wholly or substantially, for a final honour school or any other degree of this University, or degree of any other institution.

    Work deemed to be either too short or of excessive length may be penalised.

    Candidates must avoid duplicating material used in this paper when answering other papers. In addition, candidates are not permitted to duplicate material between Section A and Section B of the portfolio.

  • 2. Literature in English 1550 – 1660 (excluding the plays of Shakespeare)

  • 3. Unseen translation from Greek and Latin

    Candidates may offer either Latin or Greek or both.

    4. Greek and Latin Literature: Essay Questions

  • 5. Greek and Latin Literature: Translation and Comment

    Details of the prescribed texts and editions will be published in the course handbook. 

  • Candidates who fail one or two of papers 1-5 may resit the failed paper(s) at a subsequent examination. Candidates who fail three or more papers will be required to resit the entire examination.