Prose Set Text Group 1 (2023–24): Plato, Symposium 189c2–194e2

Plato's Symposium is a philosophical dialogue exploring the nature of love (eros). In the passage 189c2–194e2, the comic playwright Aristophanes delivers his famous speech on the origin of love, which he presents as a myth. According to Aristophanes, humans were originally spherical beings with four arms, four legs, and two faces. They were powerful and attempted to storm Olympus, so Zeus split them in half as a punishment. Since then, each half longs to reunite with its other half, and this desire for wholeness is what we call love. This speech is crucial for understanding Plato's broader argument about love as a desire for completion and immortality.

Aristophanes' speech is significant not only for its content but also for its position in the dialogue. It follows Phaedrus and Pausanias' speeches and precedes Agathon's and Socrates' (via Diotima). It introduces a humorous yet profound perspective that contrasts with the more rational and idealistic views of other speakers. The myth also raises questions about human nature, gender, and the relationship between the physical and the spiritual. For OCR A-Level students, this passage is a set text for Prose Set Text Group 1 (2023–24), requiring close analysis of language, style, and philosophical themes.

Understanding this passage requires familiarity with Greek vocabulary for body parts, emotions, and actions, as well as the use of particles and sentence structures typical of Plato's style. The myth itself is a rich source of literary and philosophical analysis, often used to discuss the concept of soulmates and the idea that love is a fundamental human drive. Students should be prepared to translate the Greek accurately and comment on how Aristophanes' speech contributes to the overall argument of the Symposium.