British and Classical Literature Home and Group Set
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British & Classical Literature – Home & Group Curriculum (Grades 11–12)
This advanced high school literature course explores classical and British works from antiquity through the 20th century. The Home & Group version includes the student workbook used in One Day Academy’s British and Classical Literature class, along with a leader guide for parents or tutors to lead once-a-week group instruction.
As with all our Home & Group sets, this curriculum follows a once-a-week teaching model in a group or co-op setting, with students completing reading and written work independently at home under a parent’s supervision. This mirrors the One Day Academy format and provides families with a structured yet flexible approach to in-depth literary study.
Students will analyze major works by authors such as Homer, Shakespeare, Lewis, and others, focusing on characterization, setting, irony, theme, and worldview. The course includes an overview of the historical and cultural background of each work, author biographies and personal worldviews, biblical connections, and opportunities for literary analysis essays and class discussion.
Parental responsibilities include purchasing the workbook and assigned literature (print copies preferred), helping students stay on track with reading and assignments, and ensuring that students come to class prepared each week with their workbook and current reading. Students at this level are expected to manage their workload independently and meet deadlines for writing and worksheet submissions.
20th century.
Process: Students will learn how the Bible’s authors, the poet Homer, and various British authors utilized
characterization, setting, irony, and other literary tools to expand upon various themes in ways unique to the
local culture at the time of the work’s conception, yet still relevant today. Through this course, students learn to
discuss at a college level major artistic works in the context of their impact on society and on individuals while
becoming more confident in expressing their interpretations based on a Christian worldview. Lessons include:
An overview of the history of the time period and its predominant worldviews,
An explanation of the authors, their backgrounds, and personal worldviews,
Themes of the works and their biblical relevance,
Charts, essay questions, and literary analysis essays.
Leader Guide and Student Workbook
The Leader Guide is designed for use with the British and Classical Literature Student Course
Workbook, as well as all the required reading books, and is suitable for one-on-one or small group
home instruction. The Leader’s Guide features a weekly overview, a lesson guide for each of 34 weekly
lessons, and information about the books and other readings that will be key to completing the writing
assignments and charts. The Leader Guide includes some of the student materials, including the writing
assignments, samples of the charts, and the writing rubrics to help parents with evaluating and grading
student writing. Students take notes on these lessons in the Course Workbook, which will aid them in
completing the writing assignments and charts, also found in the student coursebook.
Curriculum/Materials
For parents or group leaders: British and Classical Literature Leader Guide, by Susan Peisker (included in set)
Student edition: British and Classical Literature Course Workbook, by Susan Peisker (included in set)
Original, unabridged versions to be purchased separately:
The Holy Bible (ESV, KJV, NKJV, NIV, NET, or NASB preferred)
The Odyssey (Robert Fitzgerald translation only)
Beowulf (Seamus Heaney translation only)
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, Updated Edition, Folger Shakespeare Library: ISBN 978-0-7434-7757-4
The Annotated Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen; annotated and edited by David M. Shapard: ISBN 978-0-307-39080-6
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse, annotated with glossary: ISBN 9781611046656
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
While they are more expensive and not required, the Norton Critical editions of Jane Eyre and Great Expectations have helpful footnotes and additional study materials.
Works accessed online:
Modern translation of “The Knight’s Tale,” by Geoffrey Chaucer; link provided in Leader Guide