Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Tuesday 23 May 2023 – Afternoon
A Level Classical Civilisation
H408/21 Greek Theatre
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
* 9 8 9 2 4 0 9 8 4 1 *
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
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 all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 75.
• 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 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2023 [603/0726/2] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (PQ/CB) 324747/4 Turn over
, 2
Section A
Start your answer to each 10, 20 and 30 mark question on a new page.
Source A
Choregos Vase
Figure 1
1 Identify Figure 1 on the vase in Source A. [1]
2 Analyse how useful Source A is in telling us about costumes in Greek comedy at the time of
Aristophanes. [10]
© OCR 2023 H408/21 Jun23
, 3
Source B
Sophocles’ Oedipus the King 408–431
TIRESIAS You are the king no doubt, but in one respect,
at least, I am your equal: the right to reply.
I claim that privilege too.
I am not your slave. I serve Apollo.
I don’t need Creon to speak for me in public. 5
So,
you mock my blindness? Let me tell you this.
You with your precious eyes,
you’re blind to the corruption of your life,
to the house you live in, those you live with– 10
who are your parents? Do you know? All unknowing
you are the scourge of your own flesh and blood,
the dead below the earth and the living here above,
and the double lash of your mother and your father’s curse
will whip you from this land one day, their footfall 15
treading you down in terror, darkness shrouding
your eyes that now can see the light!
Soon, soon
you’ll scream aloud–what haven won’t reverberate?
What rock of Cithaeron won’t scream back in echo? 20
That day you learn the truth about your marriage,
the wedding-march that sang you into your halls,
the lusty voyage home to the fatal harbor!
And a crowd of other horrors you’d never dream
will level you with yourself and all your children. 25
There. Now smear us with insults–Creon, myself
and every word I’ve said. No man will ever
be rooted from the earth as brutally as you.
OEDIPUS Enough! Such filth from him? Insufferable–
what, still alive? Get out– 30
faster, back where you came from–vanish!
3 Give the names of Oedipus’ mother and father (line 14). [2]
4 What is Cithaeron (line 20)? [1]
5 Give the name of one of Oedipus’ children (line 25). [1]
6 Explain how successfully Sophocles makes the scene in Source B an exciting piece of drama.
[10]
7* ‘The imagery of sight and blindness is vital to the success of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King.’
Explain how far you agree with this statement.
You may use Source B as a starting point in your answer. [20]
[Section A Total: 45]
© OCR 2023 H408/21 Jun23 Turn over
Tuesday 23 May 2023 – Afternoon
A Level Classical Civilisation
H408/21 Greek Theatre
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
* 9 8 9 2 4 0 9 8 4 1 *
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
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 all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 75.
• 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 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2023 [603/0726/2] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (PQ/CB) 324747/4 Turn over
, 2
Section A
Start your answer to each 10, 20 and 30 mark question on a new page.
Source A
Choregos Vase
Figure 1
1 Identify Figure 1 on the vase in Source A. [1]
2 Analyse how useful Source A is in telling us about costumes in Greek comedy at the time of
Aristophanes. [10]
© OCR 2023 H408/21 Jun23
, 3
Source B
Sophocles’ Oedipus the King 408–431
TIRESIAS You are the king no doubt, but in one respect,
at least, I am your equal: the right to reply.
I claim that privilege too.
I am not your slave. I serve Apollo.
I don’t need Creon to speak for me in public. 5
So,
you mock my blindness? Let me tell you this.
You with your precious eyes,
you’re blind to the corruption of your life,
to the house you live in, those you live with– 10
who are your parents? Do you know? All unknowing
you are the scourge of your own flesh and blood,
the dead below the earth and the living here above,
and the double lash of your mother and your father’s curse
will whip you from this land one day, their footfall 15
treading you down in terror, darkness shrouding
your eyes that now can see the light!
Soon, soon
you’ll scream aloud–what haven won’t reverberate?
What rock of Cithaeron won’t scream back in echo? 20
That day you learn the truth about your marriage,
the wedding-march that sang you into your halls,
the lusty voyage home to the fatal harbor!
And a crowd of other horrors you’d never dream
will level you with yourself and all your children. 25
There. Now smear us with insults–Creon, myself
and every word I’ve said. No man will ever
be rooted from the earth as brutally as you.
OEDIPUS Enough! Such filth from him? Insufferable–
what, still alive? Get out– 30
faster, back where you came from–vanish!
3 Give the names of Oedipus’ mother and father (line 14). [2]
4 What is Cithaeron (line 20)? [1]
5 Give the name of one of Oedipus’ children (line 25). [1]
6 Explain how successfully Sophocles makes the scene in Source B an exciting piece of drama.
[10]
7* ‘The imagery of sight and blindness is vital to the success of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King.’
Explain how far you agree with this statement.
You may use Source B as a starting point in your answer. [20]
[Section A Total: 45]
© OCR 2023 H408/21 Jun23 Turn over
