All materials are provided for students

While we read many stories with humor, irony, and themes of love/friendship, others have mature events, such as murder, inferred violence (nothing graphic), revenge, alcohol, death, prejudice, etc., and are intended for secondary students. Many discussions pose questions about the human psyche. Some stories may have religious allusions, and I sometimes point them out so that students understand the literary and cultural relevance. Discussion is focused on what the characters believe, what the author believes, and what beliefs were central to literary periods of time, such as the Puritans, Elizabethans, or the Dark Romantics. The stories we do read are classics and most--if not all--were written a century ago or longer and are commonly read in middle/high schools. They help students understand the world in which they live as they ponder deep questions that are as relevant now as they were then. Stories are written with a Lexile score between 900-1400.