Transition Times: If you love ancient history you might love Leaving Certificate classics.
When Colin Farrell hits Irish cinemas in Oliver Stone's film Alexander after Christmas we may see a surge in interest in Leaving Cert classics. The story of Alexander the Great has been one of the most popular parts of the course since the syllabus was introduced, 20 years ago.
Classical studies is not offered in many schools, and most of the 822 students who took it last year studied the subject alone or with the help of grind schools or private tuition. Classics students tend to come from Dublin and are as likely to be male as female.
There is a vague perception that classics is one of those subjects that provide a soft honour, but any student who has taken it will tell you that there is a lot of work involved and that if students do well it's because they love the subject. It really is engaging stuff for the right student.
"There are three sections to the course, and students must answer at least one question from each on the final exam," says classics teacher Michael Barry of St Patrick's College in Cork. "The first section covers ancient history: Alexander the Great, Athens, Pompeii, Caesar and Cicero. The reading for this section is onerous enough: students are expected to read several histories of Alexander the Great, for example."
The second section of the course covers such topics as Greek drama and the ancient epic. Again there's plenty to read: Oedipus Rex (which is also on the English course, so you can save some time there), Euripides's Medea, Homer's Odyssey and Aeschylus's Prometheus Bound are just some of the set texts. It's all fascinating material, as long as you have the time and the commitment to get through it in fifth year, before the pressure starts.
The third section of the course covers art and architecture of the ancient civilisations, as well as the philosophies of Socrates and Plato.
"The classical-studies syllabus is excellent preparation for a wide range of third-level subjects," says Barry. "Students with an interest in law, English, archaeology and philosophy will all benefit from the Leaving Cert classical-studies course. Students these days tend to veer towards quite practical subjects, but classics can be a practical choice, depending on your college aspirations."
Transition year is an excellent opportunity to explore the classical-studies course, to see if it's for you. Start by reading The Odyssey, follow up with a bit of Plato and then, what the hell, take yourself to the movies.
