Modern Literature Live

Description

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

Mary Pierson’s Modern Literature Live gives students a love of great books and helps them establish a strong foundation in writing. Group discussion is a crucial aspect of the class since this enables students to interact with each other and take inspiration from their peers in an academic setting. 

Students will be pushed to discuss literature from a higher level of criticism after short lectures which give context for the author, time period, and literary work. Assignments include weekly readings and essays of various forms based on the literature and information learned in class. Writing instruction is intentional and thorough as students learn to write a proper, academic essay, including researching secondary criticism.

Credit: One Credit in High School Literature/English

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

Includes: 

• Weekly group discussions
• Weekly readings of various length
• Short lectures covering literary context
• Writing instruction
• Approximately 10 essays of various types
• Grading
• Research instruction

The class will meet weekly over Zoom on Mondays, from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Central Standard Time starting the week of August 11th. See the schedule below.

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.

Mary Pierson Purifoy graduated from Liberty University 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. She also loves old movies.

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

All Mondays, all scheduled from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Central Standard Time. Exact dates subject to slight change.

Aug 11 – Don Quixote (prologue & chapter 1)
Aug 18 – Don Quixote (chapter 2 & 3)
Aug 25 – Writing week
Sep 1 – Robinson Crusoe
Sep 8 – Pilgrim’s Progress
Sep 15 – Scarlet Pimpernel
Sep 22 – Scarlet Pimpernel
Sep 29 – Scarlet Pimpernel
Oct 6 – Fall Break
Oct 13 – Scarlet Pimpernel
Oct 20 – Emma
Oct 27 – Emma
Nov 3 – Emma
Nov 10 – Emma
Nov 17 – Emma
Nov 24 – Thanksgiving Break
Dec 1 – Sherlock Holmes
Dec 8-Jan 4 – Winter Break
Jan 5 – The Little Woman
Jan 12 – Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Jan 19 – All Quiet on the Western Front
Jan 26 – All Quiet on the Western Front
Feb 2 – All Quiet on the Western Front
Feb 9 – To Kill a Mockingbird
Feb 16 – To Kill a Mockingbird
Feb 23 – To Kill a Mockingbird
Mar 2 – Hiding Place
Mar 9 – Spring Break
Mar 16 – Hiding Place
Mar 23 – Animal Farm
Mar 30 – Easter Break
April 6 – War poetry
April 13 – Cry, the Beloved Country
April 20 – Cry, the Beloved Country
April 27 – Cry, the Beloved Country
May 4 – Cry, the Beloved Country

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.

What kinds of assignments and assessments are included?

Assignments include weekly readings and papers corresponding with various pieces of literature.  All are designed to help students think deeply, write clearly, and enjoy great literature.

Will my student receive a final grade?

Yes! The instructor, Mary Pierson, will provide a suggested final grade based on submitted assignments and participation. Since this is a live homeschool course, the parent has the final authority and may use this grade as part of their student’s official transcript or records.

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.