Survey of World Literature
Honors and AP Humanities English IV:
Ms. Modafferi
Humanities Survey of World Literature: A strong humanities course focuses on equally balancing literature, art and music and understanding their threads of commonality. The focal point of this course is to expand a global mind to thoughts and perspectives beyond our own culture through literature and study of foreign culture and customs through the development of ideas, critical thinking and artistic expression. Students will experience learning with a hands-on approach, and develop their written and verbal analytical skills. In addition, we, as a class, will concentrate on fostering an understanding on the importance of taking a position and defending it through substantial support and sufficient evidence..
The Heritage and Foundations built in Ancient Greece and Rome:
Greek Lyric Poetry (Sappho)
Greek Tragedy: Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles (Enrichment: Antigone by French playwright Jean Anouilh)
Greek Comedy: Lysistrata by Aristophanes
Roman Epic Poetry: The Aeneid by Virgil
The Rise of Medieval Europe:
The Divine Comedy (the Inferno) by Dante Alighieri
Compared with Biblical Definition and explanation of “Heaven (Paradise) and Hell (Dystopia)”
Modern Connection: No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre and study of Existentialism
The Renaissance:
Othello, Hamlet and *King Lear by William Shakespeare
At this point, through their high school education, students will have studied the major Shakespearean tragedies Romeo and Juliet,
Macbeth, King Lear, Othello and Hamlet. A great emphasis will be placed on their shared similiarities, themes, archetypes, and traits
as works of tragedy and as works of Shakespeare.
Continue Review from British Literature of Sonnets
- English (Shakespearean) sonnet and Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet
The Age of Rationalisation
Study of Satire through exploration of:
*Animal Farm by George Orwell
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
Compared to Analysis of modern music by artists like: Springsteen, Green Day, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blues Traveler
Modern Thought in Literature:
The Little Prince by Antoine de St. Exupéry
Short Story Genre: Happy Endings by Margaret Atwood, selected works by de Maupassant, Chekov, Poe, etc
* My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Both Honors and Advanced Placement students are expected to improve writing style through a variety of challenging critical and creative assignments. In addition, AP students will average a literary analysis essay geared toward practicing for the AP Lit Exam approximately every other week.
* Indicates Summer Reading Material which will be explored and reviewed further
Honors and AP Humanities English IV:
Ms. Modafferi
Humanities Survey of World Literature: A strong humanities course focuses on equally balancing literature, art and music and understanding their threads of commonality. The focal point of this course is to expand a global mind to thoughts and perspectives beyond our own culture through literature and study of foreign culture and customs through the development of ideas, critical thinking and artistic expression. Students will experience learning with a hands-on approach, and develop their written and verbal analytical skills. In addition, we, as a class, will concentrate on fostering an understanding on the importance of taking a position and defending it through substantial support and sufficient evidence..
The Heritage and Foundations built in Ancient Greece and Rome:
Greek Lyric Poetry (Sappho)
Greek Tragedy: Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles (Enrichment: Antigone by French playwright Jean Anouilh)
Greek Comedy: Lysistrata by Aristophanes
Roman Epic Poetry: The Aeneid by Virgil
The Rise of Medieval Europe:
The Divine Comedy (the Inferno) by Dante Alighieri
Compared with Biblical Definition and explanation of “Heaven (Paradise) and Hell (Dystopia)”
Modern Connection: No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre and study of Existentialism
The Renaissance:
Othello, Hamlet and *King Lear by William Shakespeare
At this point, through their high school education, students will have studied the major Shakespearean tragedies Romeo and Juliet,
Macbeth, King Lear, Othello and Hamlet. A great emphasis will be placed on their shared similiarities, themes, archetypes, and traits
as works of tragedy and as works of Shakespeare.
Continue Review from British Literature of Sonnets
- English (Shakespearean) sonnet and Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet
The Age of Rationalisation
Study of Satire through exploration of:
*Animal Farm by George Orwell
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
Compared to Analysis of modern music by artists like: Springsteen, Green Day, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blues Traveler
Modern Thought in Literature:
The Little Prince by Antoine de St. Exupéry
Short Story Genre: Happy Endings by Margaret Atwood, selected works by de Maupassant, Chekov, Poe, etc
* My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Both Honors and Advanced Placement students are expected to improve writing style through a variety of challenging critical and creative assignments. In addition, AP students will average a literary analysis essay geared toward practicing for the AP Lit Exam approximately every other week.
* Indicates Summer Reading Material which will be explored and reviewed further
