World Literature
10th or 11th grade

This dynamic course keeps students actively learning with daily readings and homework, reviewed weekly. Parents, students, and the instructor work together to support understanding and progress. Grades reflect a mix of homework, tests, quizzes, writing, presentations, and class participation, making every part of the learning experience count.
 
**In order to maximize their learning of World Literature, it is required that students take the companion World History course that is offered on the same day. These classes build upon one another and follow an identical time line. Students will read literature written from the time period being studied in history, thus, students take both courses and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the material.
 
Unit 1 – First Civilizations and Empires (3500 B.C. to A.D. 500)

• The Meaning of Myths

  • Write an original myth myth

• Greek Mythology

  • Comparative research assignments

• Writings of Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates

  • Internet research project on the philosophies of each of the above

• One Thousand and One Arabian Nights

  • Analytical essay on themes in middle eastern mythology

• Haiku Poetry

  • Write original haiku poetry

 
Unit 2 – New Patterns of Civilizations (400-1500)

• Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe

  • Analytical essay on the theme of the Renaissance Man 

• The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer 

  • Group project summarizing and performing one assigned tale

• African short stories and poetry

  • Internet research project on various works

 
Unit 3 – The Early Modern World (1400-1800)

• Hamlet by William Shakespeare

  • Argumentative essay on themes of Hamlet

 
Unit 4 –Era of European Imperialism (1800-1914) 

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

  • Opinion essay on Victorian era love and marriage

• Les Miserables (excerpts and movie)

  • Short answer timed essay 

• “The Blue Carbunkle,” “Rikki Tikki Tavi,” “Toys of Peace” 

  • Annotation assignmen

 

Unit 5 – Universal Story- Cinderella

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix OR Cinder​ by Marissa Meyer and Various Selections

• Read, write analysis, and discuss Just Ella or Cinder

• Read/view at least ten versions of Cinderella tales from all around the world

• Study elements of a fairy tale and classic Cinderella elements

• Creative narrative assignment writing a new version of Cinderella

 
Unit 6 – Toward a Global Civilization (1945-Present)

• Animal Farm by George Orwell

  • Narrative writing assignment 

  • Propaganda group project

• Uglies by Scott Westerfield

  • Utopian society writing assignment

  • Self-reflection paragraph writing 

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Honors Unit – Optional add-on

• "Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan and "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen

  • Literary analysis questions and discussion

  • Short story creative essay writing​

• I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

  • Literary analysis questions and discussion

  • Reflective essay​

This class fulfills the high school requirement for World Literature. It is recommended for students in 10th/11th grade, but may be taken during any year of high school.