High School Literature 2: The Middle Ages

Classical Track

$549.00 for LIVE

$249.00 for Self-Paced

This course covers the great epics of the middle ages and the legends of King Arthur, including a 20th century novel for fun. We linger on the English language's greatest writer, William Shakespeare, sampling some of his tragedies, comedies, histories, and sonnets. The course concludes with a selection of metaphysical poetry from the 17th century.

This class meets on Tuesdays at 1 pm, Eastern Standard Time.

Note: Space is limited. Be sure to enroll early to secure your spot.

  • STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

    • Attend a one-hour, weekly, live course session

    • Complete each week’s assigned reading

    • Take a short, online, comprehension quiz

    • Answer a weekly, online, discussion question each week

    • Submit two literary analysis papers and one creative project.

  • • Students have access to recorded lectures from their course and can choose which books to read and in what order.

    • Students will have access to weekly reading pacing guides and auto-grade quizzes.

    • This class does not include live class sessions or teacher support.

    • All recordings will be available from September 2 through the end of the following August.

  • There are many options for acquiring these books. You can order them from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or another online retailer. If you want to save money, you can check them out of the library. For most of them, you can get e-book versions or access them online and read them on your computer screen.

    Please note any particular edition or translation, as those are the ones you need; if no specifics are included, any version will work.

    Beowulf (Seamus Heaney translation)

    The Inferno, by Dante (John Ciardi translation)

    The Canterbury Tales, by Chaucer (We will be reading the Prologue and four tales. You can find them online, but I recommend purchasing the whole book.)

    • The Prologue

    • “The Knight’s Tale”

    • “The Franklin’s Tale”

    • “The Pardoner’s Tale”

    • “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”

    “Gawain and the Green Knight” (J.R.R. Tolkien translation, though other translations can work)

    The Once and Future King, by T.S. White

    Le Morte D’Arthur, Sir Thomas Malory (We are only reading short excerpts from this book, and I’ve provided them in digital form in the syllabus. You don’t have to buy anything.)

    Utopia, by Thomas More

    Fierce Wars and Faithful Loves: Book I of Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, by Roy Maynard

    Various Essays by Michel de Montaigne (Nothing to buy here; digital copies provided.)

    Dr. Faustus, by Christopher Marlowe

    Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

    Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

    Henry IV, Part 1, by William Shakespeare

    Henry IV, Part 2, by William Shakespeare

    Henry V: 1989 Film directed by Kenneth Branagh (That’s right. You don’t need a print version of this play unless you want to both read and watch it. Instead of reading this week, students will watch a really good film production directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. If you can find a streaming version, great. Otherwise, try libraries.)

    A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare

    Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare

    Shakespeare’s Sonnets (No need to buy; the poems are provided in the syllabus.)

    • "Sonnet #18"

    • "Sonnet #29"

    • "Sonnet #71"

    • "Sonnet #116"

    John Donne’s Poetry (No need to buy; the poems are provided in the syllabus.)

    • “Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”

    • “Holy Sonnet #5”

    • “Holy Sonnet #7”

    • “Holy Sonnet #10”

    • “Holy Sonnet #14”

    • “The Flea”

    Metaphysical Poetry (No need to buy; the poems are provided in the syllabus.)

    • “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell

    • “To the Virgins” by Robert Herrick

    • “To Althea” by Richard Lovelace

    • “Why So Pale and Wan, Fond Lover?” by Sir John Suckling