In this course, students explore the universal themes that have fascinated writers of poetry, novels, short fiction, and drama for centuries: themes such as triumph over adversity, hope and courage, jealousy, revenge, love, friendship, loyalty, free will versus duty, war, national identity, and coming-of-age journeys. Students search for and create deeper symbolic meanings and contextualize those meanings within their own worlds.
Students encounter a range of literature from various time periods and regions of the world. Students use these texts as vehicles for the important work of close readings as well as identifying and understanding literary devices and their effect on a written work. In concert with active reading skills, students work toward clear and effective communication of their ideas in their own writing.
