Course Overview

William Shakespeare once said: "What's past is prologue," and I feel that (The Tempest). What he was trying to tell us that everything in the past has lead us here to this moment. Ideally, we would learn lessons from the past and use them to encourage us and propel us forward into a better, brighter tomorrow. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

What we can do, however, is examine the past in ways that help us explain how we got to this place called the present and examine our pattens in ways that help us develop new strategies for getting unstuck. If it's true that those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it, then you're in the right place because we're gonna learn tuh-day!

Throughout this course, we'll explore the origins and development of the English language as a global symbol of power and status. Specifically, we'll explore the following questions: "How did English get to be so important? " and "Why do I even need to learn it?" We'll begin our exploration by taking a look at British heroes because you can tell a lot about a society by examining who/what they choose to worship. Sources for this course include a variety of British literary texts from the Emerald Isle and throughout the Empire. Let's get it!

Essential Questions:

• Why does every age need a hero? Who are our heroes today?

• How did the Enlightenment and thirst for knowledge affect the culture, religion, and politics of England?

• How does the human psyche drive one’s behavior?

• What are the risks and consequences of suppressing natural desires?

• What duality exists in all people?

• What is critical literacy?