“Studying A Level Classical Civilisation has expanded my love for it, and I want to do it in the future as well.”
Course(s) studied: A Level Business Studies, A Level English Language and A Level Classical Civilisation
Former School: Devonport High School for Boys
Fowey-based Barnaby came to Truro College from Devonport High School for Boys, to study A Levels in Business Studies, English Language and Classical Civilisation. His interest goes back a long way. “I’ve been interested in the subject since I was really young,” he says. He was introduced to it when he was homeschooled for a little while, and noticed the differences between the Greek and Roman gods. “Since then, it’s expanded my love for it, and I want to do it in the future as well.”
Part of the appeal, he says, is that the stories still hold our attention. “They’re cool, but they’re also a good avenue into looking at how the world worked back then and how we had different beliefs about how things worked.” On the course, he is studying the Iliad. His favourite character is Odysseus. “He was the first Greek hero I was ever introduced to, because I read The Odyssey when I was quite young. I thought he was really cool and I still think he’s really cool.”
What has surprised him most is how much ancient literature still shapes what we read and watch today. “Something like a cyclical structure that you might see in a Homeric epic, you’ll see in a lot of pieces of media today.” It’s also changed how he sees adaptations. “You know the source material a little better than some other people, so you can talk about how they’ve adapted it with a bit more knowledge and insight.”
The course has built his analytical skills too. “You look at the contextual factors around when a piece was written, what’s going on in the world, or what’s happened beforehand. Pieces about Actium, for example, were written as Augustan propaganda, not quite a historical retelling.”
Next, Barnaby plans to study classics at university. “I plan to take classics at degree level and then hopefully go on to teach it. That’s the plan.” His advice to anyone thinking about the subject is simple. “Get used to reading a lot. You’ll need to read a lot, so be good at that.”
Why choose A Level Classical Civilisation at Truro and Penwith College?
A Level Classical Civilisation lets students explore the ancient world through its literature, from the Iliad to the ways its stories still shape what we read and watch today. Truro and Penwith College has 30 years of excellence behind it. This summer, 2,367 Level 3 students received their results, with high-grade performance significantly above national averages when compared with all further education colleges in England.
To find out more about A Level Classical Civilisation, visit: A Level Classical Civilisation – Truro & Penwith College
