Tuesday 14 May 2024 – Afternoon
A Level Classical Civilisation
H408/11 The World of the Hero
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
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Section A
Homer
Answer all the questions on the text you have studied.
Homer’s Iliad
Choose one translation of the Iliad and answer the questions.
Passage A
Homer, Iliad, 17.198–215, 223–235
When from afar Zeus who marshals the clouds saw Hector equipping himself in the arms of
godlike Achilles, he shook his head and said to himself:
‘Unhappy man! Little knowing how close you are to death, you are putting on the
imperishable armour of a mighty man of war, before whom all others tremble. And it was you
that killed his comrades, brave and gentle Patroclus, and improperly stripped the armour 5
from his head and shoulders. Well, for the moment at any rate I grant you supremacy. But
you must pay for it. There will be no homecoming for you from the battle, and your wife
Andromache will never take the famous armour of Achilles from your hands.’
The son of Cronus spoke and nodded his sable brows in confirmation.
The armour fitted Hector’s body well, the savage spirit of the terrible War‑god now entered 10
him and power and fresh vigour filled his limbs. Uttering his piercing war‑cry, he went in
search of his renowned allies and presented himself before all of them, resplendent in the
armour of great‑hearted Achilles. To rouse their spirits he went up and spoke to each of them
in turn…
‘…What I wanted was men who would be fully committed to fighting the war‑loving Greeks 15
in defence of the women and little children of Troy. That is why I impoverish my own people
by demanding they supply you with gifts and provisions and so keep your courage high.
‘Turn, then, and straight at the enemy, every one of you, to live or die! That is the intimacy
of battle. To the man who forces Ajax back and brings Patroclus, dead though he is, into the
Trojan lines, I will give half the spoils, keeping the other half myself, so that he will share the 20
glory equally with me.’
So he spoke, and they lifted their spears and charged at the Greeks with full force, filled with
high hopes of retrieving the body from Ajax son of Telamon.
Translation: E.V. Rieu
© OCR 2024 H408/11 Jun24
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OR
When Zeus the Cloud‑Gatherer, from afar, saw Hector donning godlike Achilles’ armour,
he shook his head and murmured: ‘Unhappy man, cladding your body with the imperishable
battle‑gear of a mighty warrior before whom all others quail: blind you are to the death that
inexorably nears you. You it is that killed his great and generous companion, and irreverently
stripped him of that prize. Yes, I will grant you power enough for now, but you must pay, there 5
will be no homecoming for you, nor will Andromache receive Achilles’ glorious armour from
your hands.’
And the son of Cronos nodded his head, with its dark eyebrows, while subtly moulding the
armour to Hector’s body. Now the spirit of Ares the war‑god, dread Enyalius, entered him,
filling him with courage and strengthening his limbs, and Hector, uttering his loud war‑cry, 10
re‑joined the ranks of his glorious allies, and showed himself to all in the glittering armour of
brave Peleus’ son. He spoke to each general, inspiring him to battle…
‘...you were keen to defend the women and children of Troy from the fierce Achaeans, and
to that purpose I spend my people’s wealth in gifts for you, and provisions, to maintain your
strength and courage. So let every man attack the enemy, to live or die, that is the task of 15
war. I will share half the spoils with whichever of you drives Ajax off, and drags Patroclus’
corpse into the ranks of us horse‑taming Trojans, and I’ll share the glory with him too.’
At this, with spears extended, they charged full tilt at the Danaans, with high hopes, in their
folly, of dragging the corpse away from Telamonian Ajax!
Translation: A.S. Kline
1 Explain how Hector is shown in a heroic way in Passage A.
Use references to the passage to support your answer. [10]
2* Discuss what you have learned about fate from your study of the Iliad. Explain what the existence
of fate adds to the epic.
You may use Passage A as a starting point, and your knowledge of the Iliad in your answer. [20]
© OCR 2024 H408/11 Jun24 Turn over
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Homer’s Odyssey
Choose one translation of the Odyssey and answer the questions.
Passage B
Homer, Odyssey, 9.500–535
© Homer, The Odyssey, p123-124, Penguin Classics, 2003. Permission to reproduce all copyright material has been applied for. In some cases, efforts to contact copyright-holders have been unsuccessful and OCR will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements in future papers if notified. Item removed due
© OCR 2024 H408/11 Jun24
