Join Professor Joseph Pearce and learn about everything from the Greek epics to Shakespeare's plays to Tolkien's famous trilogy. What Every Catholic Should Know is an insightful introduction to the world's rich depository of stories. Learn how great literature mirrors The Story—the Story of Salvation History and how it directs us back to the Storyteller, God himself.
How to get the most out of Literature – What Every Catholic Should Know with Joseph Pearce:
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First, read the course materials below before the first class meeting.
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Then have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session.
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Read assignments before class meetings
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Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session.
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Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week.
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Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.
Total classes: 6
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: The ability to enjoy great literature
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested credit: ½ semester Literature
Instructor: Joseph Pearce
Instructor Email: joseph.pearce@augustineinstitute.org
Course description: A survey of the Great Books of Western Civilization based on Joseph Pearce’s book, Literature: What Every Catholic Should Know. Students will gain a good and solid introduction to many of the greatest works ever written. It is not expected that students will be familiar with these works, nor that they have read them. Class reading will be chapters from Mr. Pearce’s book. In preparation for the first class session, it would be helpful were students to have read Chapters 1 to 3 before the first class.
Course outline:
Day One – Classical Epic & Tragedy: Homer, Virgil, Sophocles
Day Two – Medieval Literature: Boethius, Beowulf, Dante, Chaucer
Day Three – Shakespeare’s Catholic Muse
Day Four – Metaphysical and Romantic Poetry: Gardner, Southwell, Crashaw, Herbert, Donne, Wordsworth
Day Five – Nineteenth Century Literature: Austen, Bronte Sisters, Shelley, Hopkins, Wilde
Day Six – Twentieth Century Literature: Benson, Chesterton, Belloc, Elliot, Tolkien, Lewis
Course materials: Joseph Pearce, Literature: What Every Catholic Should Know [Ignatius Press/Augustine Institute] ISBN: 9781733522120 (https://www.ignatius.com/Literature-P3299.aspx)
Homework: Reading Assignment: approximately 30 pages per class meeting. Reviewing for Weekly Quizzes. Quizzes are automated and graded by the computer for immediate feedback. Estimated homework time per week: 2 hours