OCR A Level Classical Greek H444/02 Prose Composition or Comprehension
Combined Question Paper and Mark Scheme
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
A Level Classical Greek
H444/02 Prose Composition or Comprehension
Time allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
Do not use:
• a dictionary
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.
• Answer either the questions in Section A or the question in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
Answer either Section A or Section B
Section A
Comprehension and Grammar
Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions which follow.
When a citizen called Aristophanes was sentenced to death, the Athenian state confiscated his
property and auctioned it off to make a profit. Raising less money from the sale than expected, the
state accused Aristophanes’ family of stealing from the estate before the auction. In this passage
the defendant, the brother-in-law of Aristophanes, is discussing Aristophanes’ character and attitude
towards Athens.
Aristophanes focused his attention and energy not only on his own private matters but also on the
state; any money that he had, he would spend it in the pursuit of glory.
γνώσεσθε δὲ ὅτι ἀληθῆ λέγω ἐξ αὐτῶν ὧν ἐκεῖνος ἔπραττε. πρῶτον μὲν
γὰρ βουλομένου Κόνωνος πέμπειν τινὰ εἰς Σικελίαν, ὁ Ἀριστοφάνης ᾤχετο
ὑποστὰς μετὰ Εὐνόμου, Διονυσίου φίλου ὄντος καὶ ξένου, τὸ πλῆθος τὸ
ὑμέτερον πλεῖστα ἀγαθὰ πεποιηκότος.
ἦσαν δ᾽ ἐλπίδες τοῦ πλοῦ πεῖσαι Διονύσιον πολέμιον μὲν γενέσθαι 5
Λακεδαιμονίοις, φίλον δὲ καὶ σύμμαχον τῇ πόλει τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ. καὶ
ταῦτ᾽ ἔπραττον πολλῶν κινδύνων ὑπαρχόντων πρὸς τὴν θάλατταν
καὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, καὶ ἔπεισαν Διονύσιον μὴ πέμψαι τριήρεις ἃς τότε
παρεσκευάσατο Λακεδαιμονίοις. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐπειδὴ οἱ πρέσβεις ἧκον
ἐκ Κύπρου ἐπὶ τὴν βοήθειαν, ὁ Ἀριστοφάνης οὐδὲν ἐξέλιπε προθυμίας 10
σπεύδων. ὑμεῖς δὲ δέκα τριήρεις αὐτοῖς ἔδοτε καὶ τἆλλα ἐψηφίσασθε,
ἀργυρίου δ᾽ εἰς τὸν ἀπόστολον ἠπόρουν. ὀλίγα μὲν γὰρ ἦλθον ἔχοντες
χρήματα, πολλῶν δὲ προσεδεήθησαν. οὐ γὰρ μόνον εἰς τὰς ναῦς, ἀλλὰ καὶ
πελταστὰς ἐμισθώσαντο καὶ ὅπλα ἐπρίαντο.
Ἀριστοφάνης δ᾽οὖν τῇ προτεραίᾳ ᾗ ἀνήγετο, εἰσελθὼν ὡς τὸν πατέρα τὸν 15
ἐμὸν ἐκέλευσε χρῆσαι ὅ τι εἴη ἀργύριον. προσδεῖν γὰρ ἔφη πρὸς τὸν μισθὸν
τοῖς πελτασταῖς.
Lysias, On the Property of Aristophanes 19–22 (adapted)
Names
ὁ Κόνων, -ωνος Conon, a Greek general
ἡ Σικελία, -ας Sicily
ὁ Εὔνομος, Εὐνόμου Eunomus
ὁ Διονύσιος, Διονυσίου Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse (a city in Sicily)
ἡ Κύπρος, -ου Cyprus
ὁ Ἀριστοφάνης, -ους Aristophanes
© OCR 2025 H444/02 Jun25
Combined Question Paper and Mark Scheme
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
A Level Classical Greek
H444/02 Prose Composition or Comprehension
Time allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
Do not use:
• a dictionary
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.
• Answer either the questions in Section A or the question in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
Answer either Section A or Section B
Section A
Comprehension and Grammar
Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions which follow.
When a citizen called Aristophanes was sentenced to death, the Athenian state confiscated his
property and auctioned it off to make a profit. Raising less money from the sale than expected, the
state accused Aristophanes’ family of stealing from the estate before the auction. In this passage
the defendant, the brother-in-law of Aristophanes, is discussing Aristophanes’ character and attitude
towards Athens.
Aristophanes focused his attention and energy not only on his own private matters but also on the
state; any money that he had, he would spend it in the pursuit of glory.
γνώσεσθε δὲ ὅτι ἀληθῆ λέγω ἐξ αὐτῶν ὧν ἐκεῖνος ἔπραττε. πρῶτον μὲν
γὰρ βουλομένου Κόνωνος πέμπειν τινὰ εἰς Σικελίαν, ὁ Ἀριστοφάνης ᾤχετο
ὑποστὰς μετὰ Εὐνόμου, Διονυσίου φίλου ὄντος καὶ ξένου, τὸ πλῆθος τὸ
ὑμέτερον πλεῖστα ἀγαθὰ πεποιηκότος.
ἦσαν δ᾽ ἐλπίδες τοῦ πλοῦ πεῖσαι Διονύσιον πολέμιον μὲν γενέσθαι 5
Λακεδαιμονίοις, φίλον δὲ καὶ σύμμαχον τῇ πόλει τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ. καὶ
ταῦτ᾽ ἔπραττον πολλῶν κινδύνων ὑπαρχόντων πρὸς τὴν θάλατταν
καὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, καὶ ἔπεισαν Διονύσιον μὴ πέμψαι τριήρεις ἃς τότε
παρεσκευάσατο Λακεδαιμονίοις. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐπειδὴ οἱ πρέσβεις ἧκον
ἐκ Κύπρου ἐπὶ τὴν βοήθειαν, ὁ Ἀριστοφάνης οὐδὲν ἐξέλιπε προθυμίας 10
σπεύδων. ὑμεῖς δὲ δέκα τριήρεις αὐτοῖς ἔδοτε καὶ τἆλλα ἐψηφίσασθε,
ἀργυρίου δ᾽ εἰς τὸν ἀπόστολον ἠπόρουν. ὀλίγα μὲν γὰρ ἦλθον ἔχοντες
χρήματα, πολλῶν δὲ προσεδεήθησαν. οὐ γὰρ μόνον εἰς τὰς ναῦς, ἀλλὰ καὶ
πελταστὰς ἐμισθώσαντο καὶ ὅπλα ἐπρίαντο.
Ἀριστοφάνης δ᾽οὖν τῇ προτεραίᾳ ᾗ ἀνήγετο, εἰσελθὼν ὡς τὸν πατέρα τὸν 15
ἐμὸν ἐκέλευσε χρῆσαι ὅ τι εἴη ἀργύριον. προσδεῖν γὰρ ἔφη πρὸς τὸν μισθὸν
τοῖς πελτασταῖς.
Lysias, On the Property of Aristophanes 19–22 (adapted)
Names
ὁ Κόνων, -ωνος Conon, a Greek general
ἡ Σικελία, -ας Sicily
ὁ Εὔνομος, Εὐνόμου Eunomus
ὁ Διονύσιος, Διονυσίου Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse (a city in Sicily)
ἡ Κύπρος, -ου Cyprus
ὁ Ἀριστοφάνης, -ους Aristophanes
© OCR 2025 H444/02 Jun25
