Description

One of Charles Dickens’ most well-known and frequently quoted novels, A Christmas Carol, is a story of generosity, forgiveness, and redemption. The main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a miserly man who is forced to assess his bitter and isolated existence through visits from the ghost of his former partner, Marley, and subsequent visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. This memorable and uplifting story celebrates the joys of the Christmas season.

Reason For Teaching

A Christmas Carol includes many Biblical themes and connections that students will explore such as: sin, forgiveness, almsgiving, redemption, and absolution. Additionally, the course will study Scrooge as a reformed hero of the story and the journey he takes towards better virtue and self-understanding.

Description

Frederick Douglass—author, orator, abolitionist, and former slave—wrote this memoir highlighting his passion for the abolitionist movement and tragic upbringing and early life before his eventual escape to the North and freedom. His resilience, passion, and heroism are highlighted in this well-known autobiography.

Reason For Teaching

This autobiography represents both an example of non-fiction in our course study and highlights the African American perspective during a pivotal time in the history of our country.

Disclaimer

Because of the historical context this text includes some descriptions of tense racial scenes, and some violence.

Description

In this classic tragedy, Shakespeare uses a legendary family conflict as the basis for a budding romance. A young man and a young woman from feuding families fall in love, and their resulting choices have devastating consequences.

Reason For Teaching

This novel will introduce students to reading a full-length classic together. We will focus on learning and applying basic literary analysis terms, analyzing characters, and respectfully discussing a well-known piece of literature. Its high-interest plot and accessible style will build students’ enthusiasm for literature and lay a solid foundation for the year, while its biblical themes of loyalty, friendship, and the deadliness of bitterness will strengthen their biblical worldview.

Disclaimer

Deals with teenage romance and suicide. Some illustrations in the recommended Folger edition depict Cupid and other classical figures.

We selected the Folger Library Edition because the content of its footnotes is more appropriate for high school students, compared to other published editions.

Description

This fantasy story has become a modern classic as readers journey with the hero on an epic adventure. The hobbit Bilbo Baggins leaves his comfortable life in the Shire to adventure with dwarves to raid treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon. As Bilbo makes his way through the many trials that await him, he begins to learn more about himself the unexpected hero that has been lying dormant inside of him all along.

Reason For Teaching

This adventure story represents an example of fantasy fiction in the course and a model to trace a “hero’s journey” in literature. The story provides an example of having faith when all hope seems lost and believing in yourself. Bilbo provides a model of an unexpected hero as shows courage and gets the group out of many difficulties along the journey despite his small stature.

Description

This classic detective novel features the infamous Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Watson. In one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most well-known novels about the notorious sleuth he heads to the moor surrounding Baskerville Hall. Holmes is given the task of solving the case of a ghostly hound that has been a part of the Baskerville family lore for ages and has recently scared the owner of the grand estate to his death. As the heroes solve this perplexing mystery of the hound, students will explore some of what makes Sherlock Holmes a classic literary hero that has endured the test of time.

Reason For Teaching

The Hound of the Baskervilles will introduce students to the concept of story arch as they explore the conflict and resolution of this book. Students will also analyze what qualities make Sherlock Holmes a hero as they write and think critically about this novel. Lastly, this book helps introduce students to the mood or atmosphere of a story as they read about the eerie moor surrounding Baskerville Hall.

Disclaimer

This is a murder mystery, but it is not graphic.

Description

The Pearl is a story of human nature and greed. Kino, a pearl diver, discovers a treasure, a gigantic pearl of great value. Rather than bringing prosperity, the pearl inspires greed and brings out the evil in men.

Reason For Teaching

Written in a straightforward style, this story introduces students to another culture and explores the dangers of greed and oppression.

Disclaimer

Deals with dark themes and contains some violence.

This short story is available through AmericanLiterature.com.  

Description

This short story by Robert Louis Stevenson envelops the reader in the darkness and suspense of night as the soldier Denis De Beaulieu attempts to go back to his lodging without being seen by enemy soldiers during the Hundred Years War. As Denis ultimately finds himself trapped in the bizarre home of the Sire de Maletroit, he is forced to make heroic decisions when faced with strange and difficult circumstances. It is a story of twists and turns that ultimately ends this a dramatic and somewhat romantic Medieval tale.

Reason For Teaching

This short story prompts students to begin thinking about the course theme of heroism. Students read this story before starting to write their own short stories in order to get a sense of how to write character, setting, mood and conflict.