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Merlin and Nimue, Arthur Rackham (1917) for Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur
For the English IV class, the main focus of the reading and writing will be in British literature and literary history. In the United States, much of our culture was derived from copying what was done in England: the subjects of religion, language, architecture, government, business, music, and literature all found England a powerhouse of inspiration for where to start and how to continue developing. While it is true that American culture is itself rebellious and unconventional in nature, it was from England that the pilgrim colonists sprang to land at Plymouth Rock, and British literature can still influence students today with spiritual and philosophic discussions of personal responsibility and honour, the natural world, the development of the self, heroism and leadership, love and relationships, beauty and art, and much, much more.
The British Isles have been a populated collection of islands for thousands of years, with cultures and languages that are still vibrant and relevant today. In western history, England was the dominant empire of the 18th to the 20th centuries, either through colonization, invasion, or commercialization. As such, there may very well be more literature and culture to analyze and apply to our lives than in American culture, but that is only because they have been recording their own deeds for more time. In class, follow along as we travel, study, and read through Medievalism to the 20th century through the cultural lenses of England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
Each major Unit of study in British Literature will feature elements about the historical time period, the genre, and several small works that are included within the time period itself. Each major Unit of study will also feature an anchor text, which will suffice to focus students' attention as a paragon example of the time period, and as a piece of classic literature.
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