What We ARe REading
Mythology by Edith Hamilton & Homer's The Odyssey3rd Quarter
Hamilton's classic bestseller is the go-to reference on Greek Mythology. We will be reading excerpts of this anthology depicting the Gods, characters, adventures, and themes in classical Greek mythology, alongside lengthy excepts of Homer's epic The Odyssey.
Read more?!?! When you love to read, reading more is never enough! |
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee1st Quarter
Published amidst the civil rights struggle of the 1960's, Lee's fictional novel depicts the story of Scout (and her brother and friend Jem) as she confronts her own prejudices and those of the community (based on race, gender, and socio-economic status), while living in South during The Great Depression.
The Diary of Anne Frank2nd Quarter
Anne Frank wrote her diary during the nearly two years she was hiding from the Nazis in an secret annex in Amsterdam. Anne's father Otto Frank (one of eight individuals that included his wife and two daughters) is the only survivor after the annex is discovered. Franks diary was published posthumously, and today is world famous. Today it is translated into 67 languages and has sold 30 million copies.
Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet4th Quarter
One of the most accessible of Shakespeare's canonical dramas, Romeo and Juliet is always read first and during freshman year. It is the tragic story of two very young lovers from feuding families. We will first learn about the early-modern language of Shakespeare and common poetic devices, before delving into this juicy, but tragic parable of young love. In addition, we will likely be watching Zeffirelli's film version, contrasting to modern (think DiCaprio) and other dramatic interpretations.
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“. . . the discussion had already begun long before any of them got there, . . . You listen for a while, until you decide that you have caught the tenor of the argument; then you put in your oar. Someone answers; you answer him; another comes to your defense; another aligns himself against you, . . . the discussion is interminable."
Kenneth Burke on Reading and Writing as Conversation