High School English; Literature: Fiction & Nonfiction, Part Two (9th - 12Th)

Suggested course of study:
~ 9th & 10th Grade learners should consider beginning with "Part One" and then continue with "Part Two" the following year. 

Curriculum and summaries for the 2024/2025 academic year:
~ 12 months of material
~ All of the related materials and optional homework lessons will be provided in a PDF at the END of each respective lesson (NOT before)

What to expect for each 50-minute session:
~ I will screen share the reading material and annotate on the screen.
~ I briefly review important vocabulary from the text.
~ I will briefly review the reading comprehension questions before we read (reading & test-taking strategy).
~ I will identify any literary elements to be aware of as we read.
~ We will all take turns narrating the passage. I will encourage all of my learners to participate; however, I will accommodate the needs of anyone who does not wish to read aloud.
~ Any of the reading comprehension questions and writing prompts that were not completed during the session will become the responsibility of the learner. 


Fall Semester (September 9th - December 16th):
Welcome to the Fall Semester of the 2024/2025 academic year! This semester promises an exploration of diverse literary works, ranging from Nathaniel Hawthorne's psychological exploration of grief in "The Wives of the Dead" to the satirical critique of social injustice in Anton Chekhov's "A Defenseless Creature." Immerse yourself in philosophical reflections on tragedy by Aristotle and the allegorical journey through Plato's "Allegory of the Cave." The Fall Semester concludes with Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," delving into themes of mental health and feminism, symbolically expressed through the haunting yellow wallpaper. Throughout, learners will have the opportunity to make connections between texts, recognizing common threads of human experience and literary expression across different genres and themes.

The week of September 9th
Title: The Wives of the Dead
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Grief and Mourning
Literary focus: Psychological Exploration
Summary: The story delves into the psychological aspects of grief as two sisters grapple with the news of their husbands' deaths during the Indian War.

The week of September 16th
Title: Young Goodman Brown
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Morality, Sin, and the Dark Side of Human Nature
Literary focus: Allegory
Summary: This allegorical tale explores the moral journey of Young Goodman Brown, who confronts the dark side of human nature and the ambiguity of good and evil.

The week of September 23rd
Title: The Ocean
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Nature and its Symbolism
Literary focus: Symbolism
Summary: Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to depict the profound connection between nature and the human soul, exploring themes of spirituality and transcendence.

The week of September 30th
Title: The Grasshopper (excerpts)
Author: Anton Chekhov
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Life's Fleeting Pleasures
Literary focus: Realism
Summary: Chekhov's realist narrative reflects on the fleeting nature of life, using the metaphor of a grasshopper to explore the brevity of human existence.

The week of October 7th
Title: Three Sisters (excerpts)
Author: Anton Chekhov
Genre: Play (Drama)
Theme: Existential Longing and Discontent
Literary focus: Character Dynamics
Summary: This play excerpts the lives of the Prozorov sisters, exploring their desires, dreams, and the existential longing for a meaningful life.

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The week of October 14th: NO CLASSES
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The week of October 21st
Title: A Defenseless Creature
Author: Anton Chekhov
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Social Injustice
Literary focus: Satire
Summary: Chekhov employs satire to critique social injustice as a hapless man faces the absurdity of bureaucratic oppression in his attempt to seek justice.

The week of October 28th
Title: On Tragedy
Author: Aristotle
Genre: Philosophical Essay
Theme: Tragedy and its Elements
Literary focus: Dramatic Structure
Summary: Aristotle's philosophical essay analyzes the essential elements of tragedy, laying the foundation for understanding the structure and purpose of tragic drama.

The week of November 4th
Title: "Three Types of Friendship" — Excerpt from The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
Author: Aristotle
Genre: Philosophical Essay
Theme: Types of Friendship
Literary focus: Ethical Philosophy
Summary: Aristotle explores the intricacies of friendship, categorizing it into three types and delving into the ethical dimensions of human relationships.

The week of November 11th
Title: Allegory of the Cave
Author: Plato
Genre: Philosophical Dialogue
Theme: Illusion vs. Reality
Literary focus: Allegory
Summary: Plato's allegory illustrates the journey from ignorance to enlightenment, emphasizing the transformative power of knowledge and the nature of reality.

The week of November 18th
Title: A Modest Proposal
Author: Jonathan Swift
Genre: Satirical Essay
Theme: Social Critique
Literary focus: Satire
Summary: Swift satirically suggests a shocking solution to poverty in Ireland, critiquing British oppression and the dehumanizing impact of economic policies.

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The week of November 25th: NO CLASSES
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The week of December 2nd
Title: The Yellow Wallpaper
Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Mental Health and Feminism
Literary focus: Symbolism
Summary: Through symbolic imagery, Gilman addresses the oppressive treatment of women in the 19th century, particularly the consequences of restricting women's intellectual and creative pursuits.

The week of December 9th
Title: Excerpt from "Walden": Where I Lived and What I Lived For
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Genre: Philosophical Essay/Memoir
Theme: Simple Living and Nature
Literary focus: Transcendentalism
Summary: Thoreau reflects on the simplicity of life, emphasizing the connection between nature and the individual soul in this transcendentalist essay.

The week of December 16th
Title: Excerpt from "Walden": Economy
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Genre: Philosophical Essay/Memoir
Theme: Self-Reliance and Individualism
Literary focus: Nature Reflections
Summary: Thoreau discusses self-reliance and individualism, advocating for a life of simplicity and harmony with nature in this philosophical essay.

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END OF FALL SEMESTER

~ The week of December 23rd: NO CLASSES

~ The week of December 30th: NO CLASSES
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Spring Semester (January 6th - May 18th):
As we enter the Spring Semester, get ready for a captivating journey through various literary genres. Henry David Thoreau's call for civil disobedience sets the stage for discussions on resistance to unjust governance. Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" and William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" explore themes of struggle, empowerment, and isolation. E.M. Forster's futuristic vision in "The Machine Stops" warns of the consequences of technology, while Nietzsche's philosophical essays challenge conventional morality. The semester concludes with Machiavelli's political insights in "The Prince" and T.S. Eliot's modernist poetry in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Learners will engage in meaningful discussions, drawing connections between texts to identify recurring motifs and ethical dilemmas that transcend historical and cultural boundaries.


The week of January 6th, 2025
Title: Excerpt from "Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Genre: Political Essay
Theme: Resistance to Civil Government
Literary focus: Civil Disobedience
Summary: Thoreau advocates for nonviolent resistance against unjust laws, emphasizing the 
individual's moral duty to resist oppressive government actions.

The week of January 13th
Title: Sweat
Author: Zora Neale Hurston
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Struggle and Empowerment
Literary focus: African American Folklore
Summary: Hurston explores the struggles of an African American woman, highlighting themes of perseverance and empowerment within the context of Southern folklore.

The week of January 20th
Title: A Rose for Emily
Author: William Faulkner
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Southern Gothic, Isolation
Literary focus: Time and Memory
Summary: Faulkner's story examines the tragic life of Emily Grierson, exploring themes of isolation, decay, and the passage of time in a Southern Gothic setting.

The week of January 27th. EDITING - The title is PENDING
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The week of February 3rd
Title: On the Doctrine of the Feeling of Power by Friedrich Nietzsche
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Genre: Philosophical Essay
Theme: Will to Power
Literary focus: Existentialism
Summary: Nietzsche reflects on the human desire for power, examining the existential implications of the will to power and its impact on individual experience.

The week of February 10th
Title: Morality as Anti-Nature by Friedrich Nietzsche
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Genre: Philosophical Essay
Theme: Critique of Traditional Morality
Literary focus: Ethical Philosophy
Summary: Nietzsche critiques traditional morality, arguing for a reevaluation of ethical values and challenging the conventional notions of good and evil.

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The week of February 17th: NO CLASSES
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The week of February 24th
Title: Excerpt from The Prince by Niccoló Machiavelli
Author: Niccoló Machiavelli
Genre: Political Philosophy
Theme: Political Leadership
Literary focus: Power and Governance
Summary: Machiavelli's political treatise offers pragmatic advice on leadership and governance, exploring the principles of power and the pursuit of political success.

The week of March 3rd
Title: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot
Author:* T.S. Eliot
- Genre: Modernist Poetry
- Theme: Alienation and Modernity
- Literary focus: Stream of Consciousness
- Summary: Eliot's poem captures the internal monologue of Prufrock, exploring themes of existential anxiety, social alienation, and the complexities of modern urban life.

The week of March 10th
Title: Miss Brill
Author: Katherine Mansfield
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Loneliness and Perception
Literary focus: Character Analysis
Summary: Mansfield depicts the life of an elderly woman observing others in a park, exploring themes of isolation, societal judgment, and the fragility of human connections.

The week of March 17th
Title: The Machine Stops
Author: E.M. Forster
Genre: Science Fiction
Theme: Dependency on Technology
Literary focus: Dystopian Society
Summary: Forster's dystopian vision portrays a society reliant on technology, questioning the consequences of isolation and loss of individual agency in the face of advancing technology.

The week of March 24th
Title: Excerpts from We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
Author: Yevgeny Zamyatin
Genre: Dystopian Novel
Theme: Totalitarianism and Individualism
Literary focus: Social Critique
Summary: Zamyatin's dystopian novel explores the dehumanizing effects of a totalitarian society, highlighting the struggle for individualism and freedom in a conformist world.

The week of March 31st
Title: The Star
Author: H.G. Wells
Genre: Science Fiction
Theme: Cosmic Perspective
Literary focus: Scientific Imagination
Summary: Wells presents a speculative tale pondering the cosmic implications of a new star, exploring themes of existentialism and the insignificance of humanity in the vast universe.

The week of April 7th
Title: I felt a Funeral, in my Brain by Emily Dickinson
Author: Emily Dickinson
Genre: Poetry
Theme: Mental Turmoil and Death
Literary focus: Psychological Exploration
Summary: Dickinson's poem delves into the depths of mental anguish, using vivid imagery to explore themes of psychological turmoil and the existential nature of death.

The week of April 14th
Title: We Grow Accustomed to the Dark by Emily Dickinson
Author: Emily Dickinson
Genre: Poetry
Theme: Perseverance and Uncertainty
Literary focus: Symbolism
Summary: Dickinson's poem reflects on the human tendency to adapt to darkness, exploring themes of resilience, perseverance, and the uncertain nature of life.

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The week of April 21st: NO CLASSES
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The week of April 28th
Title: The Transformation of Arachne into a Spider by Ovid
Author: Ovid
Genre: Mythology (Metamorphosis)
Theme: Hubris and Transformation
Literary focus: Classical Mythology
Summary: Ovid's myth explores themes of pride, punishment, and transformation as the mortal Arachne faces divine consequences for her hubris.

The week of May 5th
Title: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Author: Franz Kafka
Genre: Absurdist Fiction
Theme: Alienation and Transformation
Literary focus: Existentialism
Summary: Kafka's novella portrays the absurdity of human existence as Gregor Samsa wakes up transformed into a giant insect, delving into themes of isolation and identity.

The week of May 12th
Title: The Nose by Nikolai Gogol
Author: Nikolai Gogol
Genre: Satirical Short Story
Theme: Absurdity and Social Critique
Literary focus: Surrealism
Summary: Gogol's satirical tale explores the absurd consequences when a man's nose detaches and gains a life of its own, offering a humorous critique of societal norms.

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The week of May 19th: NO CLASSES

The week of May 26th: NO CLASSES
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Summer Semester (June 2nd - August 11th):
Summer brings a mix of mythology, surrealism, and political philosophy. Ovid's "The Transformation of Arachne into a Spider" explores hubris and transformation, while Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" delves into the absurdity of human existence. Nikolai Gogol's satirical "The Nose" adds a touch of humor to societal critique. John Donne's metaphysical poetry emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity, contrasting with Emily Dickinson's reflections on individuality in "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" As the Summer Semester concludes, join Edgar Allan Poe's exploration of urban isolation in "The Man of the Crowd" and reflect on Joseph Conrad's excerpt from "The Heart of Darkness," probing the psychological effects of colonialism. Learners will develop a nuanced understanding of how various literary forms and themes intersect, recognizing the universality of human experiences and the interconnectedness of ideas across different genres.

The week of June 2nd
Title: No Man is an Island by John Donne
Author: John Donne
Genre: Metaphysical Poetry
Theme: Interconnectedness of Humanity
Literary focus: Poetic Devices
Summary: Donne's metaphysical poem reflects on the interconnectedness of humanity, emphasizing the idea that no individual is truly isolated but rather part of a larger whole.

The week of June 9th
Title: I'm Nobody! Who Are You? by Emily Dickinson
Author: Emily Dickinson
Genre: Poetry
Theme: Individuality and Society
Literary focus: Persona Poem
Summary: Dickinson's poem playfully explores the concept of societal anonymity and the value of maintaining individuality in a conformist world.

The week of June 16th
Title: The Man of the Crowd by Edgar Allan Poe
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Urban Isolation
Literary focus: Psychological Exploration
Summary: Poe's tale follows a man's futile attempt to escape the crowds of a city, delving into themes of urban alienation and the complexities of human nature.

The week of June 23rd
Title: Excerpt from "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" by James Joyce
Author: James Joyce
Genre: Modernist Novel (Excerpt)
Theme: Artistic Development
Literary focus: Stream of Consciousness
Summary: Joyce's novel excerpt explores the artistic development of Stephen Dedalus, providing insights into the struggles and aspirations of an emerging artist.

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The week of June 30th: NO CLASSES
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The week of July 7th
Title: Excerpt from "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol
Author: Nikolai Gogol
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Social Injustice and Alienation
Literary focus: Satire
Summary: Gogol's satirical tale critiques social injustice as a lowly clerk experiences the dehumanizing effects of bureaucracy and societal expectations.

The week of July 14th
Title: Washington's Farewell Address by President George Washington
Author: President George Washington
Genre: Political Speech
Theme: National Unity and Foreign Relations
Literary focus: Political Philosophy
Summary: Washington's farewell speech emphasizes the importance of national unity and warns against entangling foreign alliances, providing insights into early American political philosophy.

The week of July 21st
Title: Of the Dignity or Meanness of Human Nature by David Hume
Author: David Hume
Genre: Philosophical Essay
Theme: Human Nature and Morality
Literary focus: Empiricism
Summary: Hume's essay explores the complexities of human nature and morality, presenting a nuanced perspective informed by empiricism.

The week of July 28th
Title: The Guilty Party by O. Henry
Author: O. Henry
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Irony and Consequences
Literary focus: O. Henry's Signature Twist
Summary: O. Henry's narrative unfolds with an unexpected twist, exploring themes of guilt, consequences, and the ironic nature of human actions.

The week of August 4th
Title: The War Prayer by Mark Twain
Author: Mark Twain
Genre: Satirical Short Story
Theme: Critique of War and Patriotism
Literary focus: Satire
Summary: Twain's satirical piece exposes the hypocrisy of war and blind patriotism, challenging societal norms and encouraging critical reflection on the consequences of conflict.

The week of August 11th (EDITING: The title is PENDING) 
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END OF SUMMER SEMESTER
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~ The week of August 18th: NO CLASSES

~ The week of August 25th: NO CLASSES

~ The week of September 1st: NO CLASSES

The 2025/2026 curriculum will tentatively begin on the week of September 8th, 2025.