Study serious literature this summer… or not! In this course, we’ll learn why humor is important and its place in great literature.

Meet Mr. O’Brien here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr29R3yCM68

Total classes: 6
Duration: 45 minutes per class

Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level:
6th to 8th Grade
Suggested credit:
½ semester Literature or English

Instructor:
Kevin O’Brien
Instructor email:
kevin@classeswithkevin.com

Course description: From light verse (funny poems) to the works of the American Humorists; from funny plays to comedies with serious themes, we will examine the role of humor in literature - and in life! Our Final Project will be a fun poem, story, play, or video that each student will make, to be shared in class.

Course outline:

Introduction
Funny Poems and Songs
Mark Twain and American Humor
Humor on Stage: from Gilbert & Sullivan to Vaudeville and Beyond
Stand-up Comedy as a form of Literature
Final Project Highlights

Course materials: PDFs provided free by the instructor.

Homework: Reading assignments and a Final Project (graded by the instructor). Expect about an hour for each class per day.