Classical Greek (2U)
Board Developed Course (240 hours)
Available in Years 11 and 12
Aims
The aims of the syllabus are to develop students’:
ability to understand Classical Greek texts
ability to understand how language works at the level of grammar and syntax
ability to recognise connections between Classical Greek and English or other languages
ability to recognise stylistic conventions of Classical Greek texts and understand their literary effects
ability to assimilate the ideas contained in a Classical Greek text
ability to explore the ideas of a Classical Greek text in its social, cultural, historical and religious context
ability to recognise how ideas and beliefs of the classical period have influences subsequent societies
enjoyment of the study of Classical Greek through the reading of Classical Greek texts
general cognitive, analytical and learning skills
Objectives
Students will achieve the following objectives:
Objective 1: understand seen and unseen texts written in Classical Greek;
Objective 2: understand the linguistic and literary features and the cultural references in prescribed Classical Greek texts;
Objective 3: understand the prescribed text as a work of literature in terms of the author’s purpose.
Course Structure
The Preliminary Course (120 indicative hours)
The Preliminary course is structured to provide students with opportunities to read original Classical Greek texts and to develop the skills needed to study the prescribed texts for the HSC course.
The HSC Course (120 indicative hours)
The HSC course is structured to provide students with opportunities to analyse prescribed Classical Greek texts and to develop skills needed to understand unseen texts.
The HSC Extension Course (60 indicative hours)
The aims of the HSC Extension Course are to increase the students’ enjoyment of, and diversify their knowledge of, classical literature; to develop the students’ linguistic competence; to extend their analytical skills; and to refine their ability to respond critically to literature.
The course is based upon Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the epic poems which stand at the head of Western European literature. These heroic tales of war and adventure have entertained for 3000 years, enriching western literature beyond measure.
Content
The content of the course is based upon Classical Greek texts and literary, linguistic, cultural and historical studies derived from them. Extracts from texts in the original Classical Greek provide the focus of this course.
Texts for the Preliminary Course:
Athenaze, Book II, Chapters 24-30
Selections from Herodotus, The Histories
Selections from Aristophanes
Texts for the HSC Continuers Course 2026:
Herodotus, The Histories, Book II
Aristophanes, Clouds
HSC Prescription
From the prose text, 17-20 pages will be set and from the verse text, 650 – 700 lines of the iambic sections of the play. In addition, students are required to read in translation the rest of the two texts from which extracts are prescribed, in order to understand the context of the prescribed extracts and their significance within the text as a whole.
Texts for the HSC Extension Course 2026:
Homer:
Homer’s Iliad XVI.1–350 (pp 684–867) to be read in Greek
The rest of Iliad XVI and Iliad XIX to be read in English
Vocabulary
While there is no prescribed vocabulary list, it is expected that students will be familiar with the range of vocabulary contained in the prescribed texts.
Dictionaries
Students should be encouraged to develop skills in using dictionaries in class and for private preparation. Suitable dictionaries are listed in the Resources on the NSW Education Standard Authority’s website (https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/home)
Grammar
Grammar is the organisation of, and relationship between, all the elements which constitute a language as it functions.
It is assumed that before beginning the Preliminary course students will already have acquired a significant understanding of Classical Greek grammar through prior study of the language and will, therefore, be familiar with most of the items in the list of accidence and syntax.
During the Preliminary course, students will complete or consolidate their knowledge and understanding of these items.
By the completion of the Preliminary course, students will have acquired the knowledge and skills to enable them to read and understand the texts prescribed for the HSC course.