English 4: British Literature & Writing
Overview
Course Description
English 4 introduces students to the British literary canon. The selected works are contextualized within two central questions: “How does one live well in a fallen world?” and “How does literature reveal the world in a true and beautiful way?” The course begins with the Inklings, a group of devoted Christians living and writing in the twentieth century. Using the Inklings as a backdrop, English 4 then moves chronologically through the major movements in British literature, beginning with the Medieval period and culminating back in the twentieth century. Thoughtful participation in class discussion is essential for student success.
Prerequisites
English 4 is an advanced high school course designed to challenge students’ reading and writing abilities. Students are expected to be self-motivated, have an excellent grasp of grammar and MLA formatting, and be capable of defending a thesis in writing.
Students Will Learn
- How to understand the major literary periods in English literature
- How to demonstrate a solid understanding of literary devices
- How to generate interesting topics for argumentative essays
- How to write excellent argumentative essays
- How to ask good questions about the texts they read
- How to obtain a deeper appreciation for poetry
- How to study English and write at the college level
Live Class Sections
English 4 is a yearlong course. Registration opens in late February.
What to Expect Weekly
We estimate students will spend 5-7 hours per week on coursework. During a typical week, students complete the following tasks:
- 90 minutes of live class instruction
- 80 pages of reading
- Weekly discussion with fellow students
- Reading quizzes every few weeks
- Poetry, rhetorical device, and devotional assignments in rotating sequences
- Essay planning, writing, editing, or revision
Throughout the year, students complete 16 literary works, two argumentative essays (1,000-1,200 words), an argumentative, in-class presentation (6-8 minutes), and an original short story and poem.
Course Materials
The Weight of Glory
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Description
Lewis argues that beautiful moments here on earth are a foretaste of heavenly glory and that truth should motivate humans to love their neighbors more.
Reason For Teaching
This long essay reminds readers of the importance of faith. It is an excellent introduction to the lens through which all the texts in this course will be viewed.
The Great Divorce
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Description
The narrator experiences the pains of becoming Christ-like in a fictional depiction of the afterlife where he meets different souls in various states of virtue and vice.
Reason For Teaching
Intended to be read as a parable for life in our current world, this text shows the fallen world in a state of redemption.
Disclaimer
Traditional sins such as lust, anger (murder), avarice, and gluttony are depicted along with their consequences, providing the groundwork for thinking through some of the ways humans fall short of the glory of God.
The Canterbury Tales (2003)
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Description
Students read selections from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Spenser’s Fairy Queen, and Milton’s Paradise Lost. Canterbury Tales is the only purchase required as the other medieval selections are provided with course material.
Reason For Teaching
These three literary masterpieces engage themes ranging from the fall of humanity to the road to redemption to the duplicity of human nature. All of this takes place within three distinct examples of medieval literature spanning from the humorous to the sublime.
Disclaimer
Some mature themes may be mentioned, but within a tasteful context.
“Leaf by Niggle”
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Description
A painter attempts to paint a tree during his lifetime, but only manages to paint a leaf. This short story is also in audiobook format.
Reason For Teaching
This story shows the importance of small, diligent acts, even if they fall short of one’s desired vision.
Macbeth (Folger Shakespeare Library Edition)
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Description
Macbeth, encouraged by his wife, allows his ambition to lead him into making life-altering decisions that lead to tragedy
Reason For Teaching
Shakespeare, widely considered the greatest playwright of all time, shows the consequences of unlawful ambition and explores natural versus unnatural ways of acting within relationships and communities.
Disclaimer
This play depicts themes of murder, supernatural evil, and just consequences.
Sense and Sensibility
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Description
Witty, engaging, and enlightening of her culture, Austen writes a novel focusing on two sisters. The recently impoverished Dashwood women move to a small cottage, where the two oldest sisters react with opposite emotions to their similar romantic situations.
Reason For Teaching
An excellent study in a variety of human responses to relationships, the book shows character growth, balance, and a wide range of characters that are not so different from experiences today.
Disclaimer
Some sexual immorality is referenced in a non-graphic manner.
A Christmas Carol
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Description
This story, set at Christmas time, follows the miserly Mr. Scrooge as several ghostly visitors teach him what he should value.
Reason For Teaching
This beloved tale introduces students to Dickens, an important Victorian author, via a classic story of redemption.
Jane Eyre
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Description
This novel tells the compelling story of an orphan girl searching for love and belonging.
Reason For Teaching
This novel provides examples concerning what it means to live a good life. It demonstrates the rich beauty in romantic/Victorian texts, as well as highlighting themes important to the time period. Jane Eyre is widely considered to be one of the best British novels.
Disclaimer
Bronte addresses infidelity, but aptly shows the consequences. She also shows the reward that comes from doing what is right.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Description
Dorian Gray’s portrait is painted during the height of his youthful beauty. Looking at the picture, he wishes that the picture would grow old and bear the marks of sin, instead of himself. As the years pass, people marvel that Dorian never outwardly changes.
Reason For Teaching
Wilde explores themes of inward versus outward beauty and the sobering power of a friend’s influence. He also explores themes of vice when life is lived for the pursuit of pleasure and there appears to be no consequences to one’s actions.
Disclaimer
Dissolute lifestyles are discussed, as well as some violent themes.
Wind in the Willows
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Description
Mole, Toad, Badger, and Rat cavort, adventure, learn, and grow as anthropomorphized friends in a winsome tale of adventure, misadventure, and the joy of the ordinary within the English countryside.
Reason For Teaching
Written for children, this classic novel allows readers to take well-written children’s literature seriously. Thematically, the book engages with themes of friendship and simplicity, which offer an anti-dystopian view of the world.
Lord of the Flies
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Description
A group of young schoolboys stranded on an island attempt to create a society.
Reason For Teaching
An example of fiction used to comment on widespread societal issues. Also, one of the forerunners of the dystopian genre.
Disclaimer
Some violent themes are addressed.
The Remains of the Day
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Description
A butler reflects on his life’s work serving a British noble with Nazi sympathies.
Reason For Teaching
A contemporary novel and 2017 winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, this complex narrative reveals themes of justice, loneliness, nobility, memory, and regret as old British values compete with modern sensibilities.
Disclaimer
Some non-explicit allusions are made to sexual activity.
The Elements of Eloquence (2014)
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Reason For Teaching
This book demonstrates figures of speech with wit and excellence and will be used in the course for biweekly exercises to further students’ appreciation for the beauty in a well-turned phrase.
Disclaimer
Some examples are not tasteful. Chapters containing these examples will be avoided.
Letters to a Diminished Church
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Description
This book presents a collection of essays on theology, aesthetics, and issues facing twentieth-century Christians.
Reason For Teaching
Sayers was a contemporary of the Inklings. The essays read in this course will discuss work and art from a decidedly Christian—yet intellectually rigorous—perspective. They are simultaneously accessible and challenging.
Collected Poems 1909-1962
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Description
This book contains the major poetic works of T.S. Eliot.
Reason For Teaching
A modern poet, Eliot converted to Christianity later in his life. His poetry demonstrates the values and style of the early twentieth century. His early poetry shows the hopelessness characteristic of many writers who lived through World War I, and his later poetry examines the difficult questions of the time through a Christian lens. This course includes Eliot for his important contribution to poetry and his devotion to Christianity.
Six Centuries of Great Poetry
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Description
This collection provides a comprehensive sampling of British poetry from Chaucer to the twentieth century.
Reason For Teaching
This text includes the majority of poems used during the course. It also provides students access to a wide range of British poetry to explore on their own.
The Elements of Style
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Reason For Teaching
This book is an excellent resource for writers, reviewing correct usage of the English language.
Master Teacher
Leilani Mueller
Leilani Mueller was homeschooled through high school. Since childhood, Leilani has spent much of her free time with a book and a pen (or a keyboard as the case may be). She went on to receive a BA in humanities, with a minor in Eng... View full bio »
Before taking this course
While not a prerequisite, successful completion of this course (or an equivalent course) is encouraged. This ensures your child is prepared to engage with the course material at a deeper level.
