by Lawrence McNally
Interactive Latin Texts

Interactive Latin Texts

Choose a text below to explore interactive analysis with clickable highlights, literary devices, and detailed commentary.

GCSE Latin
Set texts for GCSE examinations
2025-26 Examination Period
Current set texts
2025-26
Prose

Messalina

πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

Tacitus, Annals XI.26
Messalina, the emperor's wife, begins an affair with the handsome senator Silius. What follows is a secret marriage, a public scandal and a deadly power struggle. Tacitus presents her as ruthless and reckless – but is his version of events the whole truth?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2025-26
Prose

Avunculus Meus

πŸ“š

Pliny, Letters VI.16
Rome's most boring man, or the most dedicated scholar in the empire? Pliny the Younger describes his uncle's obsessive daily routine β€” from pre-dawn meetings with the emperor to reading while being scrubbed in the bathhouse.

1 2
2027-28 Examination Period
Next set texts
πŸ”œ
Coming Soon
New GCSE set texts will be announced and added here for the 2027-28 examination period.
A-Level Latin
Set texts for A-Level examinations
2025-26 Examination Period
Current set texts
2025-26
Prose

The Death of Claudius

☠️

Tacitus, Annals XII
Emperor Claudius' final days are marked by intrigue and ambition. As his health falters, unseen forces within the imperial court manoeuvre to shape Rome's future, with the rise of a new power looming on the horizon.

25 26 41a 41b 42 43 52 53 56 57 59 64 65 66 67 68 69
2025-26
Prose

The Death of Agrippina

βš”οΈ

Tacitus, Annals XIV
The end of Agrippina's influence is marked by betrayal and ruthless calculation. As Nero consolidates his power, a deadly confrontation with his mother becomes inevitable. Tacitus portrays a chilling moment where ambition and family ties collide, altering the course of Rome's imperial future.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
2025-26
Verse

The Deception of Sinon

🎭

Virgil, Aeneid II.40-249
Troy is undone by cunning rather than force. Laocoon's warning is ignored as Sinon wins the Trojans' pity with lies of sacrifice and betrayal. When serpents kill Laocoon and his sons, the people see it as a sign from the gods. The Wooden Horse is dragged inside the walls, sealing the city's fate.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2025-26
Verse

The Fall of Troy

πŸ”₯

Virgil, Aeneid II.268-317, 370-558
In a night of terror, Aeneas witnesses the sack of Troy. Hector's ghost urges him to flee, but fury drives him into the hopeless battle. Joined by companions, he fights through the burning city, witnessing horror on every side. Disguise, chance, and courage fail as the Greeks overwhelm them. At the heart of the destruction, Pyrrhus storms Priam's palace and slaughters the aged king before the altars, sealing Troy's ruin.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2027-28 Examination Period
Next set texts
πŸ”œ
Coming Soon
New A-Level set texts will be announced and added here for the 2027-28 examination period.

How Interactive Texts Work

Click on highlighted words and phrases to see instant analysis including translations, literary devices, grammatical points, and their effects. Each text includes multiple sections with reveal-able translations and comprehensive commentary.