Honors Literature and Writing 2
Description
This course continues where last year left off, in the late Middle Ages. We start with The Canterbury Tales, then spend a month on Dante's Divine Comedy. October is dedicated to Shakespeare, covering three core plays and three optional ones. We then read Don Quixote, Moliere and Milton.
The remainder of the year is spent on the golden age of nineteenth century novels, including works from Dickens, Austen and the Bronte sisters and great American novels like Huckleberry Finn and Moby Dick.
A major focus of this course is reading unabridged Great Books in their entirety. Instead of dividing books into American, British and world literature courses, we progress through the great books chronologically over the four years of high school. We feel this approach better facilitates appreciation of the progression of literature over time, and eliminating nationality restrictions allows for inclusion of more relevant books.
If you have not completed the previous Literature and Writing 1 course (www.nautilushomeschool.com/course/ninth-grade-literature), we suggest adjusting the book list to include some of the works of ancient and early medieval literature covered in that course.
Most months contain both core and optional readings. All students should try to complete the core readings, and those looking for additional challenge may take on the optional readings as time allows.
Writing skills are taught using the third volume of Writing With Skill, a literature-based writing series commenced in our curriculum's middle school grades. This course thoroughly teaches expository (academic and professional) writing skills, and provides a reasonable amount of practice without requiring excessive time. The first half of this volume is included in Ninth Grade Literature and Writing, and the second half is covered in this course. If you did not already complete the first half, you should aim to complete the entire volume this year.
You do not have to produce book reports, answer discussion questions or write essays on the books. Instead, we ask you to set aside plenty of time to experience and enjoy the works for their own sake, as we hope you will continue to do with great literature throughout your life.
Course components
Writing with Skill: Level 3 (Second half)
By Susan Wise Bauer
The Canterbury Tales
By Geoffrey Chaucer
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