Description

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

In Medieval Literature Live, students will read, discuss, and write about some of the greatest works from the Medieval era. Understanding the literature of a certain time period encourages a love of that time period.

The class will meet weekly over Zoom on Wednesdays, from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Central Standard Time, according to the schedule below. The format will be lectures and discussion each week.

The class will give your student a thorough understanding of basic literary principles, reading comprehension skills, and a strong writing foundation. The format will be discussion-based with short lectures focused on the historical context of a particular book or play. 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 Christendom course, but is also structured to stand alone.

List of Readings

Bold items need to be purchased separately. Suggested purchase links are provided.

1. Confessions by Augustine (selections) [Thomas Williams translation]
2. Beowulf (Seamus Heaney translation)
3. The Song of the Nibelungs
4. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (selections)
5. The Divine Comedy by Dante (selections) [Dorothy Sayers translation: Book 1, Book 2, Book 3]
6. “The Second Shepherd’s Play”
7. Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory
8. Selections from Renaissance poetry
9. The Prince by Machiavelli (selections)
10. Henry V by Shakespeare [Arden Shakespeare, 3rd ed.: Amazon]
11. The Faerie Queen by Edmund Spenser (selections)
12. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle [Amazon]

Schedule of Class Meetings

All Wednesdays, all scheduled from 2:30 PM – 3:30 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.