Description

Modern Literature Live traces literature from the late Middle Ages to the Cold War. Students will read around fourteen books as well as short stories and poems. They will also write essays containing personal opinion and outside criticism.

The class will meet once per week over Zoom, on Tuesdays from 2:30-3:30 PM Central Standard Time.

The format will be discussion-based with short lectures focused on historical context. Diagnosing particular literary elements through plot, character, and point of view is an essential aspect of this class. Students will leave the class with a well rounded view of literature, a solid foundation in writing, and a love of books. The course can be used alongside Dave Raymond’s Modernity course but is also structured to stand alone.

List of Readings

Bold items need to be purchased separately. Any unabridged editions will do for all except Don Quixote.

1. Don Quixote (selections), Miguel de Cervantes [Ideally the Ormsby translation.]
2. Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
3. The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan
4. The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Orczy
5. Emma, Jane Austen
6. Sherlock Holmes (selections), Arthur Conan Doyle
7. Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman
8. Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson
9. All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
10. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
11. “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae & “Memorial for 1940” by John Gould Fletcher
12. The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom
13. Animal Farm, George Orwell
14. Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton

Schedule of Class Meetings

Tuesdays, 2:30-3:30 PM Central Standard Time

1. Aug 20
2. Aug 27
3. Sep 03
4. Sep 10
5. Sep 17
6. Sep 24
7. Oct 01
8. Oct 08 – Fall Break (no class meeting)
9. Oct 15
10. Oct 22
11. Oct 29
12. Nov 05
13. Nov 12
14. Nov 19
15. Nov 26 Thanksgiving Break
16. Dec 3
17. Dec 10
18. Dec 11-Jan 6 Christmas Break
19. Jan 07
20. Jan 14
21. Jan 21
22. Jan 28
23. Feb 04
24. Feb 11
25. Feb 18
26. Feb 25
27. Mar 04 Spring Break
28. Mar 11
29. Mar 18
30. Mar 25
31. Apr 01
32. Apr 08
33. Apr 15 Easter Break
34. Apr 22
35. Apr 29
36. May 06

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 submitting the assignments to Dave.

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.