Love Stinks: Tragic Tales of Doomed Literary Couples
In this one-time unhappy Valentine's class, students will read and analyze the tragic love stories of four doomed couples from literature and mythology.
Jennifer Smith, MA
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(135)
Rising Star
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. There is no mandatory homework; however, suggestions for further reading will be provided.Assessment
Learner progress is informally assessed through class participation and discussions.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
Not every couple has a happy Valentine's Day or gets to live "happily ever after." In this class, students will learn about the tragic love stories of four doomed couples from mythology and literature. While doing this, students will also discover more about each character and the myths & stories from which they originate. We will cover the following couples: Catherine & Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights, Clytemnestra & Agamemnon from Greek Mythology, Hazel & Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars, and (of course) Romeo and Juliet from Shakespeare's play of the same name. In addition to learning the stories of these tragic couples, we will cover common literary tropes & devices, such as irony, metaphor, & hyperbole. We will also compare & contrast the doomed couples featured in the class. I will use slides to illustrate each story and concept. I encourage students to interact with me and with one another. I prefer discussions over lectures, but I do not force anyone to participate beyond their comfort level. I enjoy having a dialogue with my students and want them to ask questions and share their thoughts with me and the rest of the class. And I like to have fun! No prior knowledge is necessary for this class.
Learning Goals
Students will learn about four tragic tales of doomed couples from literature and mythology.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The stories in this class include the deaths of characters, some by natural means, but others through violent means. Also, some of the stories feature sex; however, we will not be focusing on this aspect. We are covering the tragedy in each story, so our main focus will remain on this part of the story.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Romeo & Juliet; The Fault in Our Stars; Wuthering Heights; The Iliad (Greek Mythology)
Joined April, 2020
4.9
135reviews
Rising Star
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in English from Southern New Hampshire University
I have taught Shakespeare, literature, and mythology classes as a public school teacher, homeschool co-op teacher, and as a homeschool parent. I am a teacher member of the Folger Shakespeare Library. I lead workshops on literature and mythology for Professional Home Educators. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$12
per classMeets once
50 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
2-10 learners per class
