Greek Tragedy — AS & A Level Classical Studies (9274) questions by topic
Using a set passage to judge whether Clytemnestra is portrayed negatively as a wife and mother, weighing whether tragic themes still speak to a modern audience, and assessing how much the tragic heroes actually care about honour across at least two studied plays are the recurring essay demands, worth 20 to 30 marks across 18 real questions from 2023 and 2024 papers.
How far, to what extent and assess are the command words governing every answer, and to what extent requires evidence drawn from named plays and characters rather than a general impression of the genre. Because several questions explicitly require discussion across two plays, drafting a full essay and checking it against instant marking is a direct way to confirm both texts are genuinely compared, not just one covered in depth.
October–November 2024, Paper 41
Read the passage and answer the question. To what extent is the depiction of Antigone in this passage typical of her wider portrayal in the play?
Answer this question and get it marked →'The themes of Greek tragedy are still as relevant to a modern audience as they were to an ancient one.' How far do you agree with this statement? You must discuss at least two…
Answer this question and get it marked →'The tragic heroes of Greek tragedy care little about honour.' How far do you agree with this statement? You must discuss at least two plays in your answer.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
Read the passage and answer the question. To what extent is the depiction of Antigone in this passage typical of her wider portrayal in the play?
Answer this question and get it marked →'The themes of Greek tragedy are still as relevant to a modern audience as they were to an ancient one.' How far do you agree with this statement? You must discuss at least two…
Answer this question and get it marked →'The tragic heroes of Greek tragedy care little about honour.' How far do you agree with this statement? You must discuss at least two plays in your answer.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
Read the passage and answer the question. To what extent is the depiction of Antigone in this passage typical of her wider portrayal in the play?
Answer this question and get it marked →'The themes of Greek tragedy are still as relevant to a modern audience as they were to an ancient one.' How far do you agree with this statement? You must discuss at least two…
Answer this question and get it marked →'The tragic heroes of Greek tragedy care little about honour.' How far do you agree with this statement? You must discuss at least two plays in your answer.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
Read the passage and answer the question. Using this passage as a starting point, how far do you agree that the portrayal of Clytemnestra is a negative depiction of a wife and…
Answer this question and get it marked →'The gods do not play an important role in tragedy.' To what extent do you agree? In your answer you should refer to at least two plays.
Answer this question and get it marked →'Tragedy is only moving because of the status of the characters who suffer.' How far do you agree? In your answer you should refer to at least two plays.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
Read the passage and answer the question. Using this passage as a starting point, how far do you agree that the portrayal of Clytemnestra is a negative depiction of a wife and…
Answer this question and get it marked →'The gods do not play an important role in tragedy.' To what extent do you agree? In your answer you should refer to at least two plays.
Answer this question and get it marked →'Tragedy is only moving because of the status of the characters who suffer.' How far do you agree? In your answer you should refer to at least two plays.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
Read the passage and answer the question. Using this passage as a starting point, assess the importance of loyalty in Euripides' Medea.
Answer this question and get it marked →To what extent do you think characters in tragedy are in control of their own lives? In your answer you should refer to at least two plays.
Answer this question and get it marked →'We can sympathise with tragic heroes but that does not mean we admire them.' How far do you agree with this statement? In your answer you should refer to at least two plays.
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Classical Studies topics
- Aristophanes (18)
- Themes in Greek Vase Painting (18)
- Alexander the Great (18)
- Athens and Sparta (18)
- Homeric Epic (18)
- Emperors and Subjects (18)
- Virgil's Aeneid (16)
- Architecture of the Roman City (15)
- Augustus (12)
- Augustus and the Roman Empire (6)