OCR
GCSE
Classical Civilisation
H008/11: The world of the hero
*1874879922*
AS Level
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• This question paper has two options:
Option 1: The Iliad
Option 2: The Odyssey
• Choose one option: answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section
B for that option.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 65.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk
(*).
• This document has 12 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [603/0671/3] DC (EV) 354629/2
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Option 1: The Iliad
Answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.
Section A
Answer all the questions in this section.
Choose one of the following translations of the Iliad and answer the
questions.
Passage A
Homer, Iliad, 9.369–388
, 2
‘Tell him all I say and tell him and tell him in public. Then the rest of the army can make
their feelings clear when he tries to cheat any other Greek. He is utterly shameless, but still the
dog cannot even bring himself to look me in the eye. He’ll get no advice or action from me. He
has cheated me and played me false. He won’t take me in again. Once is enough. He can go
to hell in his own good time. Zeus wise in counsel has removed his brains.
‘I hate his gifts and value him at one splinter. Not if he gave me ten or twenty times as
much as he possesses or could raise elsewhere, or all the revenues of Orchomenus or Thebes 5
– Egyptian Thebes where the houses are stuffed with treasure, and through every one of a
hundred gates two hundred warriors ride out with their chariots and horses – not if he gave me
gifts numerous as grains of sands or specks of dust, would Agamemnon ever win me over,
until he has paid back the whole heart-rending insult.’
Translation: E.V. Rieu 10
OR
Tell him openly all that I say, so the rest can take umbrage when he tries to cheat some
other Greek, shameless as he is. Yet not shameless enough to look me in the face! I shall
neither help by my advice or effort, so utterly has he cheated me and wronged me. He will not
fool me with his words again. So much for him. Let him go swiftly to perdition, since Zeus the
counsellor robs him of his wits.
As for his gifts they are hateful in my eyes, and not worth a hair. Even if he gave ten or
twenty times what he has, and raised levies elsewhere, though it were all the wealth that flows 5
to Orchomenus, or Egyptian Thebes, where the very houses are filled with treasure, and two
hundred warriors with horse and chariot sally out from its hundred gates, not if he gave me as
many gifts as the grains of sand or motes of dust, could he persuade me. First he must pay me
fully in kind for this shame that stings my heart.
Translation: A.S. Kline 10
1 What had Agamemnon done to make Achilles so angry? [1]
2 Why did Agamemnon take this action? [1]
3 Why do you think Achilles is so angry about what Agamemnon has done to him?
[1]
4 What does Achilles intend to do on the day after this meeting? [1]
5 Explain how Passage A is a vivid piece of writing.
Make four points and support each point with reference to Passage A.
© OCR 2025 H008/11 Jun25
, 3
Choose one of the following translations of the Iliad and answer the questions.
Passage B
Homer, Iliad, 22.300–333
‘Evil death is no longer far away; it is staring me in the face and there is no escape. Zeus
and his Archer son must long have been resolved on this, for all their earlier goodwill and help.
‘So now my destiny confronts me. Let me at least sell my life dearly and not without glory,
after some great deed for future generations to hear of.’
With these words Hector drew the sharp, long, heavy sword hanging down at his side. He
gathered himself and swooped like a high-flying eagle that drops to earth through black clouds
to pounce on a tender lamb or cowering hare. So Hector swooped, brandishing his sharp sword.
5
Achilles sprang to meet him, his heart filled with savage determination. He kept his chest
covered with his fine, ornate shield; his glittering helmet with its four plates nodded, and above
it danced the lovely plumes that Hephaestus had lavished on the crest. Like a star moving with
others through the night, Hesperus, the loveliest star set in the skies – such was the gleam
from his spear’s sharp point as he weighed it in his right hand with murder in his heart for
godlike Hector, searching that handsome body for its most vulnerable spot. 10
Hector’s body was completely covered by the fine bronze armour he had taken from great
Patroclus when he killed him, except for the flesh that could be seen at the windpipe, where
the collar bones hold the neck from the shoulders, the easiest place to kill a man. As Hector
charged him, godlike Achilles drove at this spot with his spear, and the point went right through
Hector’s soft neck, though the heavy bronze head did not cut his windpipe and left him still 15
able to speak. Hector crashed in the dust, and godlike Achilles triumphed over him:
‘Hector, no doubt you imagined, as you stripped Patroclus, that you would be safe. You
never thought of me.’
Translation: E.V. Rieu 20
OR
© OCR 2025 H008/11 Jun25 Turn over
, 4
‘An evil fate’s upon me, Death is no longer far away, and him there is no escaping. Zeus,
and his son, the Far-Striker, decided all this long ago, they who were once eager to defend me,
and destiny now overtakes me. But let me not die without a fight, without true glory, without
some deed that men unborn may hear.’
With this, he [Hector] drew the sharp blade at his side, a powerful long-sword, and
gathering his limbs together swooped like a high-soaring eagle that falls to earth from the
dark clouds to seize a sick lamb or a cowering hare. So Hector swooped, brandishing his 5
keen blade. Achilles ran to meet him heart filled with savage power, covering his chest with
his great, skilfully worked shield, while above his gleaming helm with its four ridges waved the
golden plumes Hephaestus placed thickly at its crest. Bright as the Evening Star that floats
among the midnight constellations, set there the loveliest jewel in the sky, gleamed the tip of
Achilles sharp spear brandished in his right hand, as he sought to work evil on noble Hector, 10
searching for the likeliest place to land a blow on his fair flesh.
Now, the fine bronze armour he stripped from mighty Patroclus when he killed him
covered all Hector’s flesh except for one opening at the throat, where the collarbones knit neck
and shoulders, and violent death may come most swiftly. There, as Hector charged at him,
noble Achilles aimed his ash spear, and drove its heavy bronze blade clean through the tender 15
neck, though without cutting the windpipe or robbing Hector of the power of speech. Hector fell
in the dust and Achilles shouted out in triumph: ‘While you were despoiling Patroclus, no doubt,
in your folly, you thought yourself quite safe, Hector, and forgot all about me in my absence.’
Translation: A.S. Kline 20
6 Which immortal has just tricked Hector? [1]
7 How did this immortal trick Hector? [1]
8 What does Hector ask Achilles to do after this passage? [1]
9 Why do you think that this was important to Hector? [1]
10 Explain how far you think Achilles is shown to be admirable in Passage B.
Make four points and support each point with reference to Passage B.
11* ‘Evil death’. Explain whether you think this is a fair description of the way death is
presented in the Iliad.
You may use Passage B as a starting point, and your own knowledge of the Iliad
answer.
[Section A Total: 40] Section B
Answer one question from this section.
Either
12* ‘Mortal women are of little importance to mortal men in the Iliad.’ Explain how far you
agree with this statement. [25]
© OCR 2025 H008/11 Jun25
GCSE
Classical Civilisation
H008/11: The world of the hero
*1874879922*
AS Level
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• This question paper has two options:
Option 1: The Iliad
Option 2: The Odyssey
• Choose one option: answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section
B for that option.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 65.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk
(*).
• This document has 12 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [603/0671/3] DC (EV) 354629/2
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Option 1: The Iliad
Answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.
Section A
Answer all the questions in this section.
Choose one of the following translations of the Iliad and answer the
questions.
Passage A
Homer, Iliad, 9.369–388
, 2
‘Tell him all I say and tell him and tell him in public. Then the rest of the army can make
their feelings clear when he tries to cheat any other Greek. He is utterly shameless, but still the
dog cannot even bring himself to look me in the eye. He’ll get no advice or action from me. He
has cheated me and played me false. He won’t take me in again. Once is enough. He can go
to hell in his own good time. Zeus wise in counsel has removed his brains.
‘I hate his gifts and value him at one splinter. Not if he gave me ten or twenty times as
much as he possesses or could raise elsewhere, or all the revenues of Orchomenus or Thebes 5
– Egyptian Thebes where the houses are stuffed with treasure, and through every one of a
hundred gates two hundred warriors ride out with their chariots and horses – not if he gave me
gifts numerous as grains of sands or specks of dust, would Agamemnon ever win me over,
until he has paid back the whole heart-rending insult.’
Translation: E.V. Rieu 10
OR
Tell him openly all that I say, so the rest can take umbrage when he tries to cheat some
other Greek, shameless as he is. Yet not shameless enough to look me in the face! I shall
neither help by my advice or effort, so utterly has he cheated me and wronged me. He will not
fool me with his words again. So much for him. Let him go swiftly to perdition, since Zeus the
counsellor robs him of his wits.
As for his gifts they are hateful in my eyes, and not worth a hair. Even if he gave ten or
twenty times what he has, and raised levies elsewhere, though it were all the wealth that flows 5
to Orchomenus, or Egyptian Thebes, where the very houses are filled with treasure, and two
hundred warriors with horse and chariot sally out from its hundred gates, not if he gave me as
many gifts as the grains of sand or motes of dust, could he persuade me. First he must pay me
fully in kind for this shame that stings my heart.
Translation: A.S. Kline 10
1 What had Agamemnon done to make Achilles so angry? [1]
2 Why did Agamemnon take this action? [1]
3 Why do you think Achilles is so angry about what Agamemnon has done to him?
[1]
4 What does Achilles intend to do on the day after this meeting? [1]
5 Explain how Passage A is a vivid piece of writing.
Make four points and support each point with reference to Passage A.
© OCR 2025 H008/11 Jun25
, 3
Choose one of the following translations of the Iliad and answer the questions.
Passage B
Homer, Iliad, 22.300–333
‘Evil death is no longer far away; it is staring me in the face and there is no escape. Zeus
and his Archer son must long have been resolved on this, for all their earlier goodwill and help.
‘So now my destiny confronts me. Let me at least sell my life dearly and not without glory,
after some great deed for future generations to hear of.’
With these words Hector drew the sharp, long, heavy sword hanging down at his side. He
gathered himself and swooped like a high-flying eagle that drops to earth through black clouds
to pounce on a tender lamb or cowering hare. So Hector swooped, brandishing his sharp sword.
5
Achilles sprang to meet him, his heart filled with savage determination. He kept his chest
covered with his fine, ornate shield; his glittering helmet with its four plates nodded, and above
it danced the lovely plumes that Hephaestus had lavished on the crest. Like a star moving with
others through the night, Hesperus, the loveliest star set in the skies – such was the gleam
from his spear’s sharp point as he weighed it in his right hand with murder in his heart for
godlike Hector, searching that handsome body for its most vulnerable spot. 10
Hector’s body was completely covered by the fine bronze armour he had taken from great
Patroclus when he killed him, except for the flesh that could be seen at the windpipe, where
the collar bones hold the neck from the shoulders, the easiest place to kill a man. As Hector
charged him, godlike Achilles drove at this spot with his spear, and the point went right through
Hector’s soft neck, though the heavy bronze head did not cut his windpipe and left him still 15
able to speak. Hector crashed in the dust, and godlike Achilles triumphed over him:
‘Hector, no doubt you imagined, as you stripped Patroclus, that you would be safe. You
never thought of me.’
Translation: E.V. Rieu 20
OR
© OCR 2025 H008/11 Jun25 Turn over
, 4
‘An evil fate’s upon me, Death is no longer far away, and him there is no escaping. Zeus,
and his son, the Far-Striker, decided all this long ago, they who were once eager to defend me,
and destiny now overtakes me. But let me not die without a fight, without true glory, without
some deed that men unborn may hear.’
With this, he [Hector] drew the sharp blade at his side, a powerful long-sword, and
gathering his limbs together swooped like a high-soaring eagle that falls to earth from the
dark clouds to seize a sick lamb or a cowering hare. So Hector swooped, brandishing his 5
keen blade. Achilles ran to meet him heart filled with savage power, covering his chest with
his great, skilfully worked shield, while above his gleaming helm with its four ridges waved the
golden plumes Hephaestus placed thickly at its crest. Bright as the Evening Star that floats
among the midnight constellations, set there the loveliest jewel in the sky, gleamed the tip of
Achilles sharp spear brandished in his right hand, as he sought to work evil on noble Hector, 10
searching for the likeliest place to land a blow on his fair flesh.
Now, the fine bronze armour he stripped from mighty Patroclus when he killed him
covered all Hector’s flesh except for one opening at the throat, where the collarbones knit neck
and shoulders, and violent death may come most swiftly. There, as Hector charged at him,
noble Achilles aimed his ash spear, and drove its heavy bronze blade clean through the tender 15
neck, though without cutting the windpipe or robbing Hector of the power of speech. Hector fell
in the dust and Achilles shouted out in triumph: ‘While you were despoiling Patroclus, no doubt,
in your folly, you thought yourself quite safe, Hector, and forgot all about me in my absence.’
Translation: A.S. Kline 20
6 Which immortal has just tricked Hector? [1]
7 How did this immortal trick Hector? [1]
8 What does Hector ask Achilles to do after this passage? [1]
9 Why do you think that this was important to Hector? [1]
10 Explain how far you think Achilles is shown to be admirable in Passage B.
Make four points and support each point with reference to Passage B.
11* ‘Evil death’. Explain whether you think this is a fair description of the way death is
presented in the Iliad.
You may use Passage B as a starting point, and your own knowledge of the Iliad
answer.
[Section A Total: 40] Section B
Answer one question from this section.
Either
12* ‘Mortal women are of little importance to mortal men in the Iliad.’ Explain how far you
agree with this statement. [25]
© OCR 2025 H008/11 Jun25
