My Interest in Studying Classic Literature

“Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become. ” This quotation from Heraclitus made around the 4th century BCE remains true today and sums up my hopes by studying Classics. I believe learning from classical literature and history through language will enable me to become an analytical and evaluative thinker as well as a well-rounded individual. Heraclitus is especially relevant to me, living as he did under the rule of the Persian Empire. My heritage is Persian. My father’s family are Persian and I am named after Darius the Great. It was stories of the Greco-Persian Wars that first sparked my interest in the Classics.

History with its emphasis on analysis, interpretation of information, research skills and decision-making is very closely aligned to the study of the Classics. Evaluation of sources in the body of the course and controlled assessment is a technique which will apply directly to a Classics degree. It is also possible to draw comparisons across the centuries for example: whilst studying the repeal of the Corn Laws, it occurred to me that Peel’s actions were in keeping with Cicero’s advice to leaders in his text ‘De Officiis’. Peel acted to help the lower classes in the midst of famine despite significant risk to his own position. Compare this to modern day politicians, in particular, classics scholar Boris Johnson, whom unlike Peel appears to have put his own ambitions before the good of the people.

My logical thinking has always lent itself to Mathematics. During my GCSE Latin course I realised that the problem solving and analytical skills which I used in mathematics were helping me with translation in general and Pliny’s letters specifically. Similarly Chemistry also helps to develop analytical skills but a unique advantage of studying Chemistry is that it has taught me objectivity. Detached neutrality is essential in scientific investigation but also beneficial in any area of knowledge. Objectivity can also provide the circumstances in which links and observations can be made between seemingly unconnected ideas or events; it could be called a special kind of creativity. Thus when studying the ‘Principle of Entropy’ in Chemistry, which proposes that everything in the universe naturally moves from order to disorder, I was struck by how clearly the ancient and modern ideas seemed to mirror each other, with the idea of ‘Chaos’, that I read about in Stephen Fry’s ‘Mythos’, being that everything came from disorder and will eventually return to that state. Having enjoyed the mythology in 'Mythos' I decided to look at a primary source and chose the 'Iliad'. While reading the 'Iliad' I was intrigued to learn that it was written in dactylic hexameter. This seemed odd at first, however, further research showed that it was as commonplace in ancient Greek and Roman writing as iambic pentameter is in more modern work.

My knowledge of metre in literature came from studying speech and drama outside of school; covering disciplines like acting, poetry and public speaking. This led me to look at the work of Euripides, more specifically Medea and Electra, and I noticed similarities between these plays and works by Shakespeare such as the use of two siblings split at birth and cases of mistaken identity present in Electra. My other hobby of Debating complements this as a different kind of public performance. These activities have taught me the ability to think on my feet and respond to pressurised situations.

By studying Classics I hope that Heraclitus will be proven right. That the experience I gain through objectivity, problem-solving and analysis of information will improve and develop me as an individual. I have endeavoured to introduce myself to the wealth of knowledge that Classics offers only to realise how much more there is to learn. As Socrates said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. ” But it will be such a pleasure to find out. Character count 3960 of 4000