High School Literature

High School Literature

High School Literature selections can make or break an entire year of learning! Teenagers desperately need books that are worthy of reading. They need time to reflect, discuss, and respond to their reading in meaningful ways. Their Biblical worldview needs to be enhanced and built upon within the work they do. High school literature gives us our last chance to raise children who love to read, who think deeply about what they read, and who ponder what they read through the lens of a Christian worldview.

High School Literature Curriculum

Heart of Dakota’s World History guide certainly offers all of this and more! The high school literature selections are timeless classic novels not-to-be-missed. Charlotte Mason inspired literature plans keep the love of reading alive. The following included elements of instruction provide higher level assessments, without taking away the joy of reading:

• Classic novel introductions
• Readings with annotations
• Oral and written narrations
• Common Place Book entries
• Guided Literature Journal reflections with literary devices
• Biblical worldview questions
• Plot diagrams
• Thought-provoking discussion topics

This fresh approach to high school literature keeps students reminiscing about the books they have read for years to come! So, without further ado, let me introduce World History’s High School Literature lineup!

Ben Hur

Travel back in time and experience a thrilling tale of betrayal, revenge, and salvation. Ben Hur tells the story of a man framed for attempting to murder a Roman official. Epic in scope, this book recreates Imperial Rome. From a thrilling sea battle, to the famous chariot race, to the agony of the Crucifixion, Rome comes to life. Ben Hur weaves vivid depictions of Jesus’ life with the fictional story of Judah Ben-Hur, a young Jew who finds his life inexorably changed by the Messiah. Students also listen their way through the story with a fully-scored audio by Focus on the Family Radio Theatre.

No Fear Shakespeare: Julius Caesar

Savor one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays and understand it like never before with No Fear Shakespeare: Julius Caesar. No Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of Julius Caesar on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right. This puts Shakespeare into everyday language students can understand. With detailed character descriptions and plenty of helpful commentary, this book is the perfect way to experience Shakespeare. And pairing this with the unabridged dramatic audio production from BBC Audiobooks? Well, it makes this high school literature experience even better.

Pearl Maiden

Read H. Rider Haggard’s classic novel Pearl Maiden, a tale of adventure, hardship, and faith. This book tells the story of Miriam, a young Christian woman living in the Roman Empire during the first century, and Marcus, the Roman officer who desired to win her hand. The Lord continually strengthens Miriam’s faith as she faces hardships and fiery trials. Stirring events, captivating characters, and careful attention to historical detail are seamlessly blended. This truly uplifting novel continues to be a wonderful story of faith for readers today.

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

Visit the era of chivalry and valor with The Story of King Arthur and His Knights. Turn back the hands of time and join Howard Pyle in his vivid retelling of famous Arthurian legends. This book chronicles the adventures of Arthur as he draws the sword Excalibur from the anvil, as he courts and wins the heart of Guinevere, as he suffers treachery at the hands of Morgana le Fay, and witnesses the tragic fate of Merlin. Known for his bravery, honor, and love, Arthur is used as an illustration of the selfless nature that a true king should have for his people.

A Man for All Seasons

Hear the story of Sir Thomas More as recounted in A Man for All Seasons, Robert Bolt’s famous play about the gifted nobleman, lawyer, humanist, and author. This play is a brilliant dramatization of the conflict between More’s faith and the throne, set during the time when King Henry VIII broke with the church after the Pope refused to grant him a divorce. This account of the life of Sir Thomas More provides a solemn reminder of what it means to live and die for the faith. This makes A Man for All Seasons an excellent high school literature selection for teens!

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Experience the thrilling escapades of The Scarlet Pimpernel, an irresistible story of romance, intrigue, and suspense. This timeless caper recalls the Reign of Terror following the French Revolution. Ruthless mobs ruled the streets of Paris and hundreds of royals faced the guillotine each day. The only hope of many was a mysterious entity known as the Scarlet Pimpernel. A courageous leader, Pimpernel secretly spirited aristocrats across the Channel to safety in England. Known by the name of the wildflower he leaves as a calling card, the Pimpernel becomes the darling of the people. Marguerite Blakeney particularly admires the Pimpernel. In a twist of irony, Marguerite scorns her foppish husband as ardently as she esteems the gallant Pimpernel.

The Count of Monte Cristo

Witness the mystery and intrigue of Alexandre Dumas’s famous tale of revenge in The Count of Monte Cristo, a story set against the turbulent years of the Napoleonic era. After being betrayed and imprisoned for life, Edmond Dantés unexpectedly finds both freedom and fortune, reinventing himself as the enigmatic Count. He has only one goal…revenge. This novel presents a powerful conflict between good and evil embodied by the hero’s ultimate discomfort with the implications of his own actions.

Les Misérables

Meet one of the most famous characters in literature, Jean Valijean, in Victory Hugo’s enduring masterpiece Les Misérables. Ranked among the greatest novels of all time, Les Misérables uses the story of a peasant imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to take readers deep into the Parisan underworld. The book is paired with an audio drama from Focus on the Family. This pairing brings the themes of mercy and redemption, crime and punishment, persecution and desperation vividly to life.

Animal Farm

Read George Orwell’s sobering satire of the Russian Revolution in Animal Farm, as it provides the account of an animal uprising that resulted in a farm run by the animals. This wholly democratic society is originally built on the credo that “All Animals are Created Equal”, but slowly begins to transform as the pigs Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball slowly emerge as leaders of the new community. The climax is a betrayal of trust that reinstates totalitarian rule and amends the credo with a bloodstained postscript: “But Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others”.

The Celestial Railroad

Examine the pitfalls of modern Christianity – as well as disguised pitfalls of old – with The Celestial Railroad, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s thought-provoking addition to The Pilgrim’s Progress. This story recounts the tale of a determined pilgrim who sets out for the Celestial City, but finds to his delight that there is now a fast and easy way to travel there – the Celestial Railroad! The author’s insights are profound, each challenging readers to carefully consider the manner in which they follow the faith.

P.S. To read more about the author’s thought process in the choosing these excellent high school literature selections, click here!