Literatura de secundaria: cuentos de aventuras

Often the best adventures are those traveled in the mind from the comfort of our home homes. In this class, we're going to discuss our adventures, while discussing important literary concepts. Analysis serves to enrich the experience of the story rather than muddle it down with boring details. Once students are able to unlock the deeper meanings in stories, they'll embark on meaningful adventures they never thought possible. Each week we will discuss different genres, authors, themes, and more. Stories will need to be read BEFORE class. The links to the story will be included in the welcome message each week.

Concepts covered in this class:
- Theme and literary devices
- Characteristics of different genres
- Background information about various authors
- History behind the stories
- Using textual evidence to answer questions

Week of Jan. 15: Grimm Fairytale
"King Thrushbeard" by Brothers Grimm: This story is about a princess that is married off to a beggar man. In the end, she discovers the beggar man is not as he appears (he's actually the prince!).
Who were the Brothers Grimm?
Characteristics of a fairytale
Discuss other common Grimm fairytales

Week of Jan. 22: Science Fiction 
"The Minority Report" by Phillip K. Dick: This story is about the government's new program - Precrime. They use precogs to tell them the crimes people are going to commit before they do it. Unfortunately, there's a problem with the system.
Who was the author?
Characteristics of the science fiction genre
Discuss the story (theme, literary devices, etc...)

Week of Jan. 29: Feminist Authors
"The Revolt of Mother" by Mary E. Wilkes Freeman: Father is building ANOTHER barn, but mother wants a new house. While Father is away, Mother rebels against Father's wishes and makes sure she has her new house.
Who was the author?
Characteristics of feminist literature
Discuss how the setting affects the story

Week of Feb. 5: Legends
Cherokee legends "The Origin of Disease and Medicine" and "The Origin of Strawberries"
Characteristics of a legend
What is the difference between a legend and a myth?
Discuss the stories

Week of Feb. 12: British Authors
"The Signal-Man" by Charles Dickens: The railway signal man has been seeing ghosts. The narrator doubts the man, but in the end, he's made a believer.
Who was the author?
How is this story similar/different than his other stories?
Discuss theme/literary devices

Week of Feb. 19: Mystery
"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe - Considered the first detective story, this story is about a man who solves the horrible murder of two women.
Who was Edgar Allan Poe?
Characteristics of the mystery genre
Discuss the story

Week of Feb. 26: American Authors
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - A woman suffering from post-partum depression is prescribed absolute rest by her physician husband. The bizarre wallpaper and mental illness drive her to madness in the end.
Who was Charlotte Perkins Gilman?
How does setting affect the story?
Discuss the story

Week of March 4: Dystopian literature
“The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury - Virtual reality is the wave of the future! A family buys a "smart home" and the parents are left to the mercy of their spoiled children.
Who was Ray Bradbury?
Characteristics of dystopian literature
Discuss the story and make comparisons to life today

Week of March 11: Man versus nature
"To Build a Fire" by Jack London - A man chooses to travel in the Yukon by himself with only his dog. Surviving alone in -50 degrees is almost impossible. Will the man and his dog survive?
Discuss the six types of conflict
Discuss the story and themes

**More stories will be added**