Student Preparation Guide for the Senior Comps in Classical Civilization
The departmental description of the senior comprehensive examination in Classical Civilization is as follows:
"Departmental majors in Classical Civilization take a three-hour written examination on the history and literature of the ancient world, based upon a set list of primary and secondary sources (all read in English). The primary sources are the Iliad and the Odyssey, Vergil's Aeneid, and Augustine's Confessions; the secondary sources include a scholarly commentary on each of the four ancient works and a one-volume history of the ancient Mediterranean world. On the examination, students respond to five required short-answer questions by writing approximately five sentences for each, and then select and answer fifteen additional short-answer questions from an available list of twenty-five."
In short, it means that your exam, when you receive it, will contain 30 short-answer questions, each of which needs a response of about 5 sentences in length. Five questions out of these 30 will be mandatory, i.e., you will be required to answer them. Once you have finished these, you will be allowed to select and answer any 15 out of the remaining 25 questions for yourself.
When, therefore, you turn in your exam, it will have 20 answers on it. Each answer will be graded on a 5-point scale, for a total of 100 available points for the entire exam. A passing mark on this exam is considered to be 70 points or higher.
The short-answer questions that comprise the senior comprehensive examination in Classical Civilization will be drawn exclusively from the 9 assigned books listed in the bibliography. There are some sample questions listed at the bottom of this web page.
In order to prepare for this exam, you should read all of the ancient literature deeply and thoroughly, even if you have read it before (it is likely that you will have already encountered most, if not all, of these works in whole or in part), and study the literature in light of the interpretations presented in the scholarly commentaries. Study the presentation of ancient history in Winks/Mattern-Parkes, paying particular attention to the terms in italics and boldface.
Here is one possible way to prepare for this exam:
1. Look at the sample questions below in order to gain a sense of the exam's expectations.
2. Skim through Winks/Mattern-Parkes thoroughly but quickly, becoming acquainted with its version of ancient history. Mark sections whose contents may be unfamiliar to you, so that you can return to them later.
3. Read the sections of Winks/Mattern-Parkes which are relevant to the study of Homer and take notes.
4. Read the commentary (Silk) on the Iliad and take notes.
5. Read the Iliad, take notes, and compare the contents of the Iliad with Silk's commentary.
6. Repeat steps 3. through 6. for the remainder of the ancient literature and commentaries.
7. Read Winks/Mattern-Parkes thoroughly and take notes, paying particular attention to the sections you marked earlier.
8. Compile your notes, review important material, and write answers to some practice questions as the exam approaches.
Here are some more general suggestions to assist you in your preparations:
1. Start early and make a plan or schedule. Even the spring of your junior year is not too soon to begin; the summer before your senior year is also an ideal time to complete much of the work. Take your own usual study habits into consideration, and plot out when you plan to complete each step of the task. Revise your schedule continually as you work.
2. Pay particular attention to highlighted terminology (e.g., words in section headings, words in italics or boldface, Greek or Latin names for objects, genres, and concepts, etc.), which provides good material for the kinds of questions you will be asked.
3. Take notes. Even if your notes are not the most complete or detailed ones, they are still your notes and they will help you. If you are continuing on in your academic studies, good notes will be something you can also re-use in the future.
4. Practice answering sample questions throughout your study process to make certain that you are preparing properly and to see what kind of progress you are making.
5. Interact with others. Have a few study sessions with classmates or discuss your preparations with your thesis adviser.
If you have any additional questions about the exam as you continue to prepare for it, please consult the undergraduate adviser or another faculty member. We are always here to assist you.
Sample Exam Questions
Greek history, to 323 BC
1. Describe two possible explanations for the end of the Bronze Age in the Mediterranean world, and the evidence used to support these explanations.
2. What are some problems with trying to use Plato's writings to study the precise teachings of the historical Socrates?
Hellenistic and Roman history, after 323 BC
1. Describe the Roman system of personal patronage.
2. Apart from defending the empire, what else did the Roman army do?
Greek literature
1. Describe the worldview of the typical 'Homeric hero' in the Iliad. What are some of his priorities in life?
2. How does the Odyssey define domestic happiness?
Latin literature
1. Describe the part played in the Aeneid by one of the following goddesses: Venus, Diana, Juno.
2. What did the books of the Platonists teach Augustine about evil?
