牛津大学 古典学PS赏析

牛津大学（古典学1）、爱丁堡大学（古典学）、伦敦国王学院（古典学）、皇家霍洛威学院（古典学）和伦敦大学学院（古典学)

你为什么想学习这个课程或学科？

对我来说，决定在大学学习古典文学非常简单;可学习的领域非常广，这也是我想专攻的领域。我对古典事物的兴趣始于上中学时，我发现学习古代语言既新鲜又非常有收获。能够理解拉丁语和希腊语让我对古罗马人和古希腊人的生活有了了解。在意大利参观了斗兽场和令人难忘的庞贝城后，我发现身处罗马人创造的壮丽遗址之中，反而激发了我将自己的生活与古代人比较的热爱。

我主要感兴趣的领域之一是诗歌，从卡图卢斯的诗作《奥迪与爱》开始，我最初是在拉丁语课上接触到的，他的诗作《奥迪与爱》以其引人入胜且几乎令人发笑的对比，到奥维德的《爱情》，我才体会到爱情在古代社会生活中所扮演的角色。奥维德在《爱人》中展现的对比，比如1.9章中写道“militat omnis amans”，令人振奋。恋人作为士兵的鲜明对比，是爱情与战争之间有趣且非常可信的对比。我可以肯定地说，读这本书非常有启发性，也让我对爱情有了更深的理解。我也对希腊艺术感兴趣，尤其是帕台农神庙的浮雕。我曾写过一篇关于古代艺术色彩运用的论文，发现大英博物馆展出的大理石雕像颜色会非常精美，这让我非常感兴趣。

你的资质和学习如何帮助你准备这门课程或科目？

我从12年级开始学习散文写作，发现自己在这门严苛的挑战中茁壮成长。我很希望有机会提升我用古典语言写作的能力。我相信我已经掌握的坚实语言基础会让繁琐的任务变得可控且愉快。十年级刚开始时，我决定课外学习古希腊语GCSE，无法抗拒这门迷人复杂的语言的诱惑，经过两年的努力和决心，每周一次午休课，我获得了A*。我知道我有决心和愿望，继续作为一名独立的古典学者发展自己......这感觉像是我在大学里可能会遇到的独立学习的预兆。

我正在学习三门A-level课程，我发现通过学习非古典学科，我可以比较古典学对理解周围世界的影响。科学课程极大地提升了我的分析能力，我知道这对未来的项目会有帮助。这也让我更深入地了解了周围世界的构成以及它正在变化的过程。我知道科学工作中鼓励的分析能力和概念理解能力会在课程中帮助我。

你在教育之外还做了哪些准备工作？这些经历为什么有用？

我同时负责低年级经典文学俱乐部和古典电影协会，我很喜欢在全校鼓励古典文学。我喜欢管理两个俱乐部，尤其是低年级俱乐部，因为它让更多人对古典学更有热情。我也是一名低年级学生会长;这通过指导和支持低年级学生，培养了领导力和沟通能力。

过去几年，我在大英博物馆找到了第二个家。当然，埃尔金大理石雕像是亮点，摆放在他们宽敞空旷的房间里，彰显了它们的美丽。我觉得东侧饰带上有一幕特别感人且美丽，可以看到折叠布料的画面，这个简单的任务被人物披着披风的斗篷完美衬托。很明显，了解古代人的生活能够触动我们对自身生活、语言和社会的理解。我知道通过研究古典文明的文学和文化，我将进一步提升自己的知识和经验。

英文版

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The decision to study Classics at university was for me a very simple one; the breadth of things that can be studied make it the area in which I want to specialise. My interest in all things classical started when I joined secondary school, I found studying the ancient languages novel and very rewarding. Being able to understand both Latin and Greek has given me a sense of the lives of the Ancient Romans and Greeks. After a trip to Italy to visit the Colosseum and the haunting city of Pompeii, I found that being amongst the magnificent sites created by the Romans only went to stimulate my love of comparing my life to those of the ancients.

One of my main areas of interest is verse, from Catullus whose poem 'Odi et Amo' with its fascinating and almost amusing contrasts, I first encountered in a Latin lesson to Ovid's 'Amores', where I got a sense of the role that love played in the lives of ancient society. The contrasts that Ovid brings out throughout the 'Amores' such as in 1.9 where Ovid writes 'militat omnis amans' are thrilling. The clear contrast of lovers serving as soldiers is an interesting and yet very believable comparison to make between love and war. I can certainly say that it was stimulating to read and provided me with an insight into understandings about love. I am also interested in Greek art, in particular the Parthenon friezes. Having worked on an essay about use of colour in ancient art, I found it very interesting to discover that the marbles seen in the British museum would have been beautifully coloured.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Having started learning prose composition at the beginning of Year 12 I found that I thrived in the rigorous challenge that it presented. I would love to have the opportunity to develop my skills of writing in an classical language. I believe that the solid basis I have already got in the language will make demanding tasks manageable and enjoyable. At the start of Year 10 I made the decision to learn Ancient Greek GCSE outside of class, unable to resist the lure of a fascinating and complex language, and after two years of hard work and determination, through one lunch time lesson a week I achieved an A*. I know I have the determination and desire to further my development as an independent student of the classical world..This felt like a foretaste of independent study I might encounter at university.

I am taking 3 A levels and I have found that by studying a non-classical subject I can compare the impact that Classics has on understanding the world around me. The scientific subject has enhanced greatly my skills of analysis that I know will help in future projects. It has also allowed me to gain a deeper insight into how the world around me is composed and how it is in the process of changing. I know that skills of analysis and conceptual understanding as encouraged in scientific work will help me throughout the course.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

I run both the Lower School Classics Club and the Classics Film Society, and I love encouraging Classics throughout our school. I enjoy running both clubs, especially Lower School Club as it gives me an opportunity to get a range of people more enthusiastic about Classics. I am also a Lower School Prefect; this has brought out qualities of leadership and communication by guiding and supporting the younger students.

For the past few years I have found a second home in the British Museum. Of course the Elgin marbles are the highlight, placed in their vast and empty room which highlights their beauty. A particular scene that I find moving and beautiful is on the east frieze where the folding of a sheet of cloth is seen, this simple task is beautifully highlighted with the draping cloaks of the people in it. It is clear to see why an insight into the lives of the Ancients can touch our understanding of our own lives, language and society. I know that I shall further my own knowledge and experience by studying the literature and culture of the classical civilisations.