Aspects of content, culture, social practices and values

Thematic Aspects

Grasp the importance of themes in Greek literature, which include honour, fate, war, intelligence, love, deception, and the divine-human relationship.
Understand the theme of hubris, or excessive pride, leading to downfall, commonly seen as a moral lesson and a significant feature of Greek drama.
Explore the individual vs society theme often used in literature and drama, expressing conflicts between personal desires and societal norms.

Delve into the understanding of religion in Ancient Greek civilization, seen in their mythology, festivals, and temples, representing a polytheistic culture with gods as personifications of natural phenomena.
Recognise the significance of traditions and customs, manifesting in their funeral rites, wedding customs, and hospitality norms, shaping and reflecting societal behaviour.
Appreciate the role of arts and theatre in Greek culture, understanding how they were used for entertainment, religious observances, and political propaganda, prominent in Tragic and Comic plays.

Understand the role of slavery as a fundamental element of Greek society, investigating its influence on the economy, military, and household life.
Familiarise with political systems of Athens and Sparta, acknowledging their differing ideologies on democracy, military service, and citizenship.
Appreciate the gender roles in Greek society, noting the contrasting expectations, freedoms, and responsibilities of men and women, with special attention to public and domestic spheres.

Identify the importance of arete, meaning virtue or excellence, present in Greek mythology and widely admired as the pinnacle of Greek values.
Acknowledge the significance of justice and law, manifested in the Athenian legal system and in scenarios presented within Greek tragedies.
Recognise philosophy as the quest for wisdom and the good life, influential in Greek ethos, visible in the teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.