Description

This Live Course will be offered during the 2025-26 academic year.

Reading literature from the Ancient world will expose your students to ideology that still impacts the modern world. Class discussion and writing assignments will build a love and understanding of literature as a whole. The class can be used alongside Dave Raymond’s Antiquity series.

The class will meet weekly over Zoom on Wednesdays, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Central Standard Time, according to the schedule below. The format will be lectures and discussion each week.

Ancient Literature Live will teach your students how to write an academic paper, read various forms of literature, and understand literary principles such as juxtaposition, irony, tone, as well as historical references. The format will be discussion-based with short lectures focused on the historical context of a particular book or short story. Students will read a variety of literary forms and learn how to write a basic thesis paper and find their own voice. The papers should reflect the student’s personal opinion as well as his ability to grasp literary concepts. The course can be used alongside Dave Raymond’s Antiquity course, but is also structured to stand alone.

List of Readings

Bold items need to be purchased separately.

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh (selections)
2. Tales of Egypt by Roger Lancelyn Green (selections)
3. Greek Mythology by Edith Hamilton (selections)
4. The Iliad by Homer (selections) [Richard Lattimore translation]
5. The Odyssey by Homer [Richard Lattimore translation]
6. The book of Isaiah in The Holy Bible
7. Histories by Herodotus (selections)
8. History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides (selections)
9. Phaedo by Plato
10. “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare [Norton Critical Edition]
11. Selections from Roman histories, speeches, and poetry
12. The Aeneid by Vergil (selections) [Rolf Humphries translation]
13. The Man Born to Be King  by Dorothy Sayers

Schedule of Class Meetings

All Wednesdays, all scheduled from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Central Standard Time. Exact dates subject to slight change. Runs approximately 39 weeks into May, including holiday breaks.

1. Aug 20 – approximate start date

What if I can’t attend the live Zoom sessions?

All the sessions will be recorded and posted for enrolled families to watch at their convenience. You can use the recordings to review or catch up if you missed a session.

Families who can’t make the schedule above can still participate in the class assignments and group discussions by watching the recordings and communicating in the group on My Compass Classroom.

Do you offer refunds on live classes?

We think you will love this class. If you don’t, you may request a refund but must do so no later than before the second scheduled class after your enrollment (purchase) date. This gives you the chance to experience an entire live class session to make your decision.

Credit: Full Credit in High School Literature/English

Ages: 14+ (This course is taught at the high school level.)

Mary Pierson Purifoy has completed a history degree and was homeschooled until college. An avid reader and writer, she hopes to teach students to love books, writing, and history as well as a solid understanding of these subjects. Film is another passion as is exploring history through film and literature.