On Thursday afternoon, keen Classicists in Years 9 to Upper Sixth gathered in the Fiction Library to be treated to six pupil-penned talks on diverse and thought-provoking topics from the ancient world.
Year 10’s ‘Lockdown Greek Club’ began by offering us a taste of Greek derivatives in modern English - did know, for example, that a hippopotamus is literally a ‘river horse’? – followed by a challenging quiz to test our new knowledge. Meanwhile, the Lower Sixth Classical Civilisation students discussed the contemporary concept of ‘toxic masculinity’ and considered how it applies to the epic heroes in Homer’s Iliad (who are, as it turns out, are rather in need of therapy…)
Flora and Meghna in Year 11 spoke passionately and expertly about their GCSE set text, Book II of Virgil’s Aeneid, and followed this with a screening of their fantastic stop-motion video summaries – a very useful (and highly entertaining!) insight for the Year 10s in the audience who will begin this text in September. Finally, our outgoing Iris Presidents, Ellie and Emma in Upper Sixth, gave really fascinating talks on topics that have inspired and furthered their love of Classics: classical allusions and philosophical ideas in the work of Philip Pullman, and Virgil’s highly unusual (and possibly proto-feminist?) warrior heroine Camilla, respectively.
A huge thank you to the girls involved, who all spoke so eloquently and knowledgeably on their chosen topics. Thank you too to the very attentive pupil audience who no doubt, like me, felt that this was an afternoon that really reminded us how pertinent and worthy of discussion the ideas and stories from the classical world remain today.
Ms Mayes, Head of Classics
