King’s Ely Sixth Form student, Eliza Spooner, has achieved a Commendation in the 2023 Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge ‘Ancient World and Classics Essay Competition’.
More than 100 entries were submitted this year, and Eliza is one of very few writers to receive a Prize or certificate of Commendation.
Eliza, who is in Year 12 and studying Latin, History, and Mathematics at A-Level, answered the question: ‘Can we write history from poetry?’.
Eliza said: “I chose this question because I am fascinated by what can be inferred as historically true behind the myths and verses of classical poetry. Participating in this essay competition has deepened my understanding of the classical world.”
Eliza, who is a boarding student at King’s, is also completing an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) alongside her A-Levels. The title of her EPQ is: ‘What is the difference between poetry and archaeology as a source of historical evidence about the Classics Period?’
After Sixth Form, Eliza plans to study Classics at University.
In November last year, Eliza was a joint-winner in the ’16 and Under’ category of the Stephen Spender Prize – a poetry and translation competition, which is organised annually by The Stephen Spender Trust. She achieved this success for her excellent translation of the Latin poem, ‘Catullus 4’, written by the celebrated Roman poet, Gaius Valerius Catullus.
Congratulations on your latest achievement Eliza, we are all very proud of you!