This KS5 resource is designed for OCR A Level Classical Civilisation: Imperial Image and develops students’ study of Horace by moving from Epodes 9 to Odes 1.37. The resource can be taught across one extended lesson or two lessons, depending on the depth of analysis and written work.

Students begin by finishing their annotations of Epodes 9 before being introduced to relevant contextual information on Cleopatra and the Odes. They then independently analyse Odes 1.37, supported by examples of analysis that can be used afterwards to develop or refine their annotations.

The lesson then moves into comparison, encouraging students to consider how Horace presents Actium, Cleopatra and Octavian’s victory across the two poems. This leads to the question: ‘To what extent does Horace present the victory differently in each text?’ Students use their annotations to plan and begin a comparative response.

If taught across two lessons, the second lesson allows students to complete and refine their response, consolidating their understanding of both prescribed sources and developing their confidence in comparative analysis for Imperial Image.