High School English Level 5 Year 1 Course

Course Description

This honors-level course provides an overview of foundational Western literature from ancient Greece and Rome as well as early modern England. Students engage with epic poetry including Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid, and medieval works such as Beowulf and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The curriculum includes study of three Shakespeare plays. Students develop college-level writing skills through frequent compositions (2-3 weekly), two formal analytical essays (5-7 pages each), and a substantial research paper (8-10 pages). Technical writing skills are reinforced through systematic grammar instruction via dictation exercises. This college-preparatory curriculum builds the close reading and writing capabilities for university-level humanities study.

Books and Resources

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English Literature:

• The British Tradition I: Poetry, Prose, & Drama from the Old English & Medieval Periods, Memoria Press [Publisher]
  • Optional: Teacher Guide, Student Guide – These resources provide some vocabulary help and questions you may find useful for discussions or essay prompts. In general, reading and narrating the material is sufficient.
  • The “Introductions” in the MP books may be omitted.
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Anonymous, in a translation of your choice, such as Armitage [Amaz], Borroff [Amaz], Stone [Amaz], or Tolkien [Amaz]
• Canterbury Tales, Chaucer (Prologue and excerpts) [Amaz][online version]
• Great Myths of the World, Colum [Amaz][online version] – Note, students read from this book through the first three years of English courses.
• Optional (week 4): Saint Aldhem’s Riddles, Juster [Amaz]

Classical and Old English Epics:

A note on translations – You may find it useful to check out different translations of the epics at the library and allow the student to choose the translation that seems most enjoyable and clear.

• Term 1: The Iliad, Homer, in a translation of your choice, such as Alexander [Amaz], Fagles [Amaz], Fitzgerald [Aman], Lattimore [Amaz], Wilson [Amaz], or Butler [online version]
  • Optional: The Iliad of Homer, Vandiver [Amaz] (not scheduled in the lesson plans below, but the Lesson Plans by Book for Epics shows when the lectures best fit with the readings)
• Term 2: The Odyssey, Homer, in a translation of your choice, such as Fagles [Amaz], Fitzgerald [Amaz], Lattimore [Amaz], Wilson [Amaz], or Butler [online version]
  • Optional: The Odyssey of Homer, Vandiver [Amaz] (not scheduled in the lesson plans below, but the Lesson Plans by Book for Epics shows when the lectures best fit with the readings)
• Term 3:
  • The Aeneid, Vergil (or Virgil), in a translation of your choice such as Fagles [Amaz], Fitzgerald [Amaz], Ruden [Amaz], or Dryden [online version]
    • Optional: The Aeneid of Virgil, Vandiver [Amaz] (not scheduled in the lesson plans below, but the Lesson Plans by Book for Epics shows when the lectures best fit with the readings)
  • Beowulf, Anonymous, in a translation of your choice such as Heaney [Amaz]

Modification – focus on only one or two of the epics. Many families choose to read The Iliad and The Odyssey only. You may also choose to read a retelling of the Iliad such as Black Ships Before Troy [Amaz] and only read The Odyssey.

Drama: 

• Term 1: Twelfth Night
• Term 2: Henry V
• Term 3: Julius Caesar

Modification – Read only one or two of the plays. A family may also choose instead to watch a live or filmed version of these plays. Recommended adaptations: Twelfth Night, Globe Theatre 2012 Original Practices production [Globe Player]; Henry V, Kenneth Branagh [Amaz]; Julius Caesar. Marlon Brando [Amaz]

Additional drama 1x weekly:

• Term 1: Antigone, Sophocles [Amaz][online version] or another translation of your choice
• Term 2: Everyman, in Memoria Press The British Tradition I: Poetry, Prose, & Drama from the Old English & Medieval Periods
• Term 3: ad lib another Greek drama or medieval mystery play if time. The Greek Plays: Sixteen Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides (Modern Library Classics) [Amaz] has many options as well as Antigone.

Modification – These plays could be omitted.

Studied Dictation (optional at this stage, but recommended for Level 5):

Spelling Wisdom Book 4: Study a given passage for 2 days, write on the 3rd day, weekly [Simply Charlotte Mason]

Composition: 

End-of-term essays and essay exams, research project on a chosen topic at the end of Term 2, longer research paper on a chosen topic at the end of Term 3

• Terms 1 and 2: daily narrations, preferably written, and the 7 Sisters Introductory Guide to High School Essay Writing [7 Sisters Homeschool]
• Terms 2 and 3:  daily narrations, preferably written, and the 7 Sisters MLA Research Paper Writing Guide, 2nd edition [7 Sisters Homeschool]

Modification – Assign shorter research papers in Term 2 and Term 3.

Lesson plans

All readings are narrated, orally or in writing. For Honors credit, written narrations should be the norm.

The student should be encouraged to keep a commonplace book, in which to write down any striking or memorable passages that stand out in reading. The student should also be encouraged to commit favorite poems to memory, or at least favorite passages from longer poems. 

Abbreviations:

• MP = Memoria Press The British Tradition I: Poetry, Prose, & Drama from the Old English & Medieval Periods
• GM = Great Myths of the World
• IGEW = 7 Sisters’ Introductory Guide to High School Essay Writing
• RPWG = 7 Sisters’ MLA Research Paper Writing Guide, 2nd edition

TERM 1

Week 1
Day 1: MP Warrior & Priest, Introduction pp. 6-11 (stop at the break), GM The Significance of Mythology pp. iii-v (stop at “Egyptian Mythology”), IGEW Introduction p. 3, give dictation passage
Day 2: Iliad, Books I-II, IGEW Wk 1 Essay Format & the Introduction Lesson 1, study dictation passage
Day 3: Twelfth Night, Act I, scenes 1-3, IGEW Wk 1 Lesson 2, write dictation
Day 4: Iliad, Books III-IV, IGEW Wk 1 Lesson 3
Day 5: IGEW Wk 1 Lesson 4

Week 2
Day 6: MP Introduction pp. 11-17, GM pp. v-vi “Egyptian Mythology”, give dictation passage
Day 7: Iliad, Books V-VI, IGEW Wk 2 The Body of the Essay Lesson 1, study dictation passage
Day 8: Twelfth Night, Act I, scenes 4-5, IGEW Wk 2 Lesson 2, write dictation
Day 9: Iliad makeup day (or a day for additional reading or writing),  IGEW Wk 2 Lesson 3
Day 10: IGEW Wk 2 Lesson 4

Week 3
Day 11: MP The Seafarer, The Wanderer pp. 20-26, GM Osiris and Isis pp. 1-5, give dictation passage
Day 12: Iliad, Books VII-VIII, IGEW Wk 3 The Conclusion, Editing, & Revising L1, study dictation passage
Day 13: Twelfth Night, Act II, scenes 1-3,  IGEW Wk 3 L2, write dictation
Day 14: Iliad, Books IX-X, IGEW Wk 3 L3
Day 15: IGEW Wk 3 L4

Week 4
Day 16: MP Anglo-Saxon Riddles, pp. 27-28, & The Battle of Brunaburgh, pp. 29-31, GM Re: His Going Down and Uprising pp. 5-11, give dictation passage
Day 17: Iliad makeup day (or a day for additional reading or writing), IGEW Wk 4 Persuasive Essay L1, study dictation passage
Day 18: Twelfth Night, Act II, scenes 4-5, IGEW Wk 4 L2, write dictation
Day 19: The Iliad, Books XI-XII, IGEW Wk 4 L3
Day 20: IGEW Wk 4 L4

Optional for week 4:

• An honors student might also choose to read Saint Aldhem’s Riddles, Juster [Amaz]
• Poetry For All episode 53, “Carter Revard, What the Eagle Fan Says” – Carter Revard was an Osage poet and medieval scholar; this poem is informed by the style of Anglo-Saxon poetry, particularly riddles.

Week 5
Day 21: MP Andreas “A Legend of St. Andrew, pp. 32-34, GM “Babylonian” pp. vi-viii and In the Beginning pp. 13-15, give dictation passage
Day 22: Iliad, Books XIII-XIV, IGEW Wk 5 Continuation of Persuasive Essay L1, study dictation passage
Day 23: IGEW Wk 5 L2, write dictation
Day 24: Twelfth Night, Act III, scenes 1-2, IGEW Wk 5 L3
Day 25: IGEW Wk 5 L4

Week 6
Day 26: MP Bede, pp. 36-42 (stop before The Sending of Augustine), GM Gilgamesh pp. 15-23, give dictation passage
Day 27: Iliad, Books XV-XVI, IGEW Wk 6 The Compare/Contrast Essay L1, study dictation passage
Day 28: Twelfth Night, Act III, scenes 3-4, IGEW Wk 6 L2, write dictation
Day 29: Iliad, Books XVII-XVIII
Day 30: IGEW Wk 6 L3

Week 7
Day 31: MP Bede, pp. 42-48, GM Uta-Napishtim pp. 23-29, IGEW Wk 6 L4, give dictation passage
Day 32: Iliad makeup day (or a day for additional reading or writing), IGEW Wk 7 Literature Analysis Lesson 1, study dictation passage
Day 33: Twelfth Night, Act IV, scenes 1-2
Day 34: IGEW Wk 7 L2, write dictation
Day 35: Iliad, Books XIX-XX, IGEW Wk 7 L3

Week 8
Day 36: MP Cuthbert’s Letter on the Death of Bede, pp. 49-51, GM Ishtar’s Descent pp. 29-33, IGEW Wk 7 L4, give dictation passage
Day 37: Iliad, Books XXI-XXII, IGEW Wk 8 Writing an Editorial L1, study dictation passage
Day 38: Twelfth Night, Act IV, scene 3,  IGEW Wk 8 L2, write dictation
Day 39: Iliad, Books XXIII-XXIV, IGEW Wk 8 L3
Day 40: IGEW Wk 8 L4

Week 9
Day 41: MP Caedmon’s Hymn, p. 52, GM “Persian” pp. vii-x &  Jamshid the Resplendent pp. 35-43, IGEW Wk 9 Timed Essays L1, give dictation passage
Day 42: Iliad makeup day, IGEW Wk 9 L2, study dictation passage
Day 43: Twelfth Night, Act V, write dictation
Day 44: Antigone, lines 1-475, IGEW Wk 9 L3
Day 45: IGEW Wk 9 L4

Week 10
Day 46: MP The Dream of the Rood, pp. 53-57, GM “Jewish: Post-Christian Period” p. x and Jewish Angels, Creation, Fall of Man, pp. 45-47, give dictation passage (See also this beautiful new translation of Dream of the Rood.)
Day 47: Antigone, lines 476-975, IGEW Wk 10 Essay Tests (con’t), study dictation
Day 48: Antigone, lines 976-end, IGEW Wk 10
Day 49: Review narrations in all subjects. Choose an essay topic for end-of-term, based on narrations in any given subject, begin drafting an essay of 300-500 words on that topic. Due Week 11. Write dictation.
Day 50: Work on essay draft

Note: Students can practice the IGEW Addendums A&B SAT /ACT essay as additional work, in free time on the weekends as test prep, or next term.

Week 11
Day 51: Complete rough draft of 500-700-word essay, give dictation passage
Day 52: Student reads essay aloud to an editorial person who can provide feedback (for the editorial person, the essay evaluation rubrics on p. 64-65 of IGEW are useful), Study dictation
Day 53: Essay revision based on editorial feedback (See Essay editing checklist on IGEW p. 62), write dictation
Day 54: Conference to reread and do final essay revisions
Day 55: Complete and turn in finished essay

See essay writing rubrics on pages 64-65 of Introductory Guide to Essay Writing.

WEEK 12: DAYS 56-60 MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for English exam day
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four out of the questions to answer.

1. Write a letter home from Troy as if you were a member of the Greek army, describing the situation at the fall of Troy and explaining how things got that way. 
2. Explain why Malvolio is exiled from Olivia’s household.
3. Explain which work of Anglo-Saxon literature was your favorite, and why. 
4. Recopy an Anglo-Saxon poem from memory. 
5. You are a journalist at Thebes. File a news story covering the death of Antigone. 
6. Retell your favorite myth from this term.
7. The parent may also wish to give a short dictation passage to study quickly and write on the spot.

TERM 2

Week 13
Day 61: MP Knight, Priest, & Commoner, pp. 60-74, GM Confounding of the Angel of Death pp. 47-50, give dictation passage
Day 62: The Odyssey, Books I-II, study dictation
Day 63: Henry V, Act I, all, (finish MP reading from Mon. if necessary), write dictation
Day 64: The Odyssey, Books III-IV
Day 65: Revise a narration from this week as an essay draft.

Week 14
Day 66: MP A Bestiary, pp. 76-78, GM “Greek” pp. x-xi & In the Beginning, pp. 51-54, give dictation
Day 67: The Odyssey, makeup reading day, study dictation
Day 68: Henry V, Act II, all, write dictation
Day 69: The Odyssey, Books V-VI
Day 70: Revise a narration from this week as an essay draft.

Week 15
Day 71: MP Gaudeamus Igitur, p. 79, GM Prometheus pp. 54-57, give dictation
Day 72: The Odyssey, Books VII-VIII, study dictation
Day 73: Henry V, Act III, Prologue-scene 3, write dictation
Day 74: The Odyssey, Books IX-X
Day 75: Revise a narration from this week as an essay draft.

Week 16
Day 76: MP Everyman, pp. 80-85, GM Pandora pp. 57-63, give dictation
Day 77: Odyssey, makeup day, study dictation
Day 78: Henry V, Act III, scenes 4-7, write dictation
Day 79: Odyssey, Books XI-XII
Day 80: Revise a narration from this week as an essay draft.

Week 17
Day 81: MP Everyman, pp. 85-91, GM Demeter pp. 63-70, give dictation
Day 82: Odyssey, Books XIII-XIV, study dictation
Day 83: Henry V, Act IV, Prologue-scene 4, write dictation
Day 84: Odyssey makeup day
Day 85: Revise a narration from this week as an essay draft.

Week 18
Day 86: MP Everyman, pp. 91-97, GM Orpheus pp. 70-73, give dictation
Day 87: Odyssey, Books XV-XVI, study dictation
Day 88: Henry V, Act IV, scenes 5-8, write dictation
Day 89: Odyssey, Books XVII-XVIII
Day 90: Revise a narration from this week as an essay draft.

Week 19
Day 91: MP Everyman, pp. 97-103, GM Dionysus pp. 73-76, give dictation
Day 92: Odyssey makeup day, study dictation
Day 93: Henry V, Act V, all, write dictation
Day 94: Odyssey, Books XIX-XX
Day 95: Revise a narration from this week as an essay draft.

Week 20
Day 96: MP Everyman, pp. 103-112 (end), GM Apollo pp. 76-78, give dictation
Day 97: Odyssey, Books XXI-XXII, study dictation
Day 98: GM Herakles II, pp. 89-93. Begin considering topics for two different 4-5 page papers. You may select written narrations from a course as the beginning for these. At least one should be from this English course. One may be from science, geography, history, or another subject. Write dictation.
Day 99: Odyssey, Books XXIII-XXIV
Day 100: Revise a narration from this week as an essay draft.

Week 21
Day 101: Review rubrics on pp. 64-65 of IGEW. Begin writing your first 4-5 page paper.
Day 102: Continue writing, revising, and editing your paper for this week.
Day 103: Continue writing, revising, and editing your paper for this week.
Day 104: Continue writing, revising, and editing your paper for this week.
Day 105: Complete your paper.

Week 22
Day 106: Review rubrics on pp. 64-65 of IGEW. Begin writing your second 4-5 page paper.
Day 107: Continue writing, revising, and editing your paper for this week.
Day 108: Continue writing, revising, and editing your paper for this week.
Day 109: Continue writing, revising, and editing your paper for this week.
Day 110: Complete your paper.

Week 23

Students will begin the process of writing a research paper this week and continue throughout the third term. The choice of the topic is up to the student, though many will find beginning with a handful of written narrations may make the writing process go more smoothly.
Day 111: Complete any required revisions of the essays from the past couple of weeks. Finish any required reading. MLA Research Paper Writing Guide, Introduction
Day 112: RPWG, Chapter 1: Choosing Your Topic
Day 113: RPWG, Chapter 2: Researching Your Topic
Day 114: RPWG, Chapter 2 cont, search for sources.
Day 115: RPWG, Chapter 2 cont, search for sources

Note: You may wish to continue searching for sources in the following week, during exams. It may take some time to gather sources from your library.

WEEK 24: MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for English exam day
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four out of the questions to answer.

1. Tell the story of Odysseus’s wanderings and homecoming from the point of view of his dog. 
2. Tell the story of Everyman. 
3. You are a soldier on the field at Agincourt. You have long known of your king, Henry V, by his reputation, but this is the first time you have ever laid eyes on him. Explain what you might have expected him to be like, and how, now that you have seen and heard him, you might have revised your expectations somewhat. 
4. Which of the islands in The Odyssey would you least like to visit, and why? 
5. Compare the Greek “In the Beginning” with the Babylonian story from last term. Which to you like better, and why? 
6. What work of literature that you have read so far this year is your favorite, and why?
7. The parent may also wish to give a short dictation passage to study quickly and write on the spot.

TERM 3

A research paper will be assigned this term. Students will continue to use the MLA Research Paper Writing Guide as they write. Days when Memoria Press readings are assigned are good days to work on this project, because those readings this term are very short. If the student stays caught up in The Aeneid and Beowulf, those makeup days this term might be used for work on this project as well. 

A good goal for this research paper is 8-12 pages (8-10, 10-12), but you may choose to assign fewer or longer papers depending on the strength of your student’s writing and the topic of interest. Note that students who wish to work a little faster on the research paper should feel free to do so and finish it before the end of the term.

Dictation will taper off in the last several weeks of the term.

Week 25
Day 121: MP Sir Patrick Spens, p. 114, GM “Roman”, pp. xi-xii, and The Children of Mars I, pp. 95-100, give dictation, RPWG, Chapter 2 cont, search for sources throughout this week
Day 122: The Aeneid, Book I, study dictation
Day 123: Julius Caesar, Act I, write dictation
Day 124: The Aeneid, Book II
Day 125: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Introduction parts 1 and 2 (if you are using the Tolkien translation; otherwise skip the introduction) and stanzas 1-21

Week 26
Day 126: MP Robin Hood and Little John, pp. 115-117, GM Children of Mars II, pp. 100-102, RPWG, Chapter 3: Thesis Statement (you may continue this chapter throughout the week), give dictation
Day 127: The Aeneid, Book III, RPWG, continue Chapter 3, study dictation
Day 128: Julius Caesar, Act II, scenes 1-2, RPWG, continue Chapter 3, write dictation
Day 129: Aeneid, Book IV, RPWG, continue Chapter 3
Day 130: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, stanzas 22-45, RPWG, continue Chapter 3

Week 27
Day 131: MP Robin Hood and Allen-a-Dale, pp. 118-119, GM Numa the Law-Giver pp. 102-105, RPWG, Chapter 4: Outlines, checkpoint 6, give dictation
Day 132: Aeneid, Book V, RPWG, Chapter 4 cont, checkpoint 7, study dictation
Day 133: Julius Caesar Act II, scenes 3-4, RPWG, Chapter 4 cont, checkpoint 8 (you will continue this checkpoint for a few days), write dictation
Day 134: Aeneid, Book VI, RPWG, Chapter 4 cont, checkpoint 8 cont
Day 135: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, stanzas 46-62, RPWG, Chapter 4 cont, checkpoint 8 cont

Week 28
Day 136: MP Robin Hood’s Death and Burial, pp. 120-121, GM The Sibyl pp. 105-107, RPWG, Chapter 4 cont, checkpoint 8 cont, give dictation
Day 137: Aeneid Book VII, RPWG, Chapter 4 cont, checkpoint 9, study dictation
Day 138: Julius Caesar Act III, RPWG, Chapter 5: Writing a Rough Draft, checkpoint 10, write body of idea #1, write dictation
Day 139: Aeneid, Book VIII, RPWG, Chapter 5: Writing a Rough Draft, checkpoint 10, write body of idea #1 (cont)
Day 140: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, stanzas 63-79

Week 29
Day 141: MP Morte d’Arthur, Chapters 1-2, pp. 122-126, GM Pomona and Vertumnus pp. 107-110, RPWG, Chapter 5, checkpoint 10, write body of idea #2, give dictation
Day 142: Beowulf, pp. 3-29 (lines 1-398), RPWG, Chapter 5, checkpoint 10, write body of idea #2 (continued), study dictation
Day 143: Julius Caesar, Act IV, RPWG, Chapter 5, checkpoint 10, write body of idea #3, write dictation
Day 144: Aeneid, Book IX, RPWG, Chapter 5, checkpoint 10, write body of idea #3 (continued)
Day 145: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, stanzas 80-101

Week 30
Day 146: MP Morte d’Arthur, Chapters 3-4, pp. 126-129, GM “Graeco-Roman”, p. xii & Cupid & Psyche I, pp. 111-115, RPWG, Chapter 5, checkpoint 11 (introduction), give dictation
Day 147: Beowulf, pp. 29-57 (lines 399-835), RPWG, Chapter 5, checkpoint 11 (introduction) (continued), study dictation
Day 148: Julius Caesar, Act V, scenes 1-3, RPWG, Chapter 5, checkpoint 12 (conclusion),  write dictation
Day 149: Aeneid, Book X, RPWG, Chapter 5, checkpoint 12 (conclusion) (continued)
Day 150: Canterbury Tales, Prologue, lines 1-200. The student could memorize lines 1-18 to recite in Middle English. There are many YouTube versions to help with pronunciation.

Week 31
Day 151: MP Morte d’Arthur, Chapters 5-7, pp. 129-132, GM Cupid & Psyche II, pp. 115-118, RPWG, Chapter 6: Citations, checkpoint 13, give dictation
Day 152: Aeneid, Book XI, RPWG, Chapter 6: Citations, checkpoint 13 (continued), study dictation
Day 153: Julius Caesar, Act V, scenes 4-5, RPWG, Chapter 6: Citations, checkpoint 14 (works cited page), write dictation
Day 154: Beowulf, pp. 57-81 (lines 836-1159), RPWG, Chapter 6: Citations, checkpoint 14 (works cited page) (continued)
Day 155: Canterbury Tales, Prologue, lines 201-400

Week 32
Day 156: MP makeup day, GM Cupid & Psyche III pp. 118-124, RPWG, Chapter 7: Revising and Editing Your Work, checkpoint 15 (revise your rough draft), give dictation
Day 157: Aeneid, Book XII, RPWG, Chapter 7: Revising and Editing Your Work, checkpoint 15 (revise your rough draft) (continued), study dictation
Day 158: Draft research paper, write dictation
Day 159: Beowulf, pp. 82-109 (lines 1160-1569)
Day 160: Canterbury Tales, Prologue, lines 401-600

Week 33
Day 161: Makeup day for MP reading, GM makeup day, RPWG Chapter 7 cont, checkpoint 16 (thesis statement), give dictation
Day 162: Beowulf, pp. 109-135 (lines 1570-1962), RPWG Chapter 7 cont, checkpoint 16 (thesis statement) (continued), study dictation
Day 163: Research paper – Find at least two people who are able to read and comment on your paper. Plan to share it with them this week and receive feedback next week in a conference (in person, by phone, by email, etc.), write dictation
Day 164: Beowulf, pp. 135-159 (lines 1963-2344)
Day 165: Canterbury Tales, Prologue, lines 601-800

Week 34
Day 166: Canterbury Tales, Prologue, lines 801-858, draft research paper
Day 167: Beowulf, pp. 159-185 (lines 2345-2728)
Day 168: Read your research paper aloud (to yourself or one or both of your editorial people). Note necessary revisions or odd phrasing as you read, and receive feedback from your editors.
Day 169: Beowulf, pp. 185-213 (lines 2729-3182) finish
Day 170: Canterbury Tales, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

Week 35
Day 171: Canterbury Tales, The Pardoner’s Tale
Day 172: RPWG Chapter 7 cont, final edits and formatting
Day 173: Revise and polish research paper
Day 174: The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Sir Topaz
Day 175: Finish and turn in the research paper.

WEEK 36: MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for English exam day
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four out of the questions to answer.

1. You are on the road to Canterbury, making your pilgrimage with Chaucer’s merry band. Whom do you want to walk next to? Whom do you want to avoid? Why? 
2. Who is more heroic, Aeneas or Beowulf? Why? Give as many reasons as you can. 
3. It has been said that the tellers of ancient pagan myths caught glimpses of true things, even through the veil of their ignorance of the True God, and that all people are essentially wired to seek and recognize Him. How might you say that this is so, based on the myths you have read this year? 
4. You are a journalist on the streets of Ancient Rome. It’s the Ides of March. Report the news. 
5. Tell the story of the death of King Arthur. 
6. Tell the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
7. The parent may also wish to give a short dictation passage to study quickly and write on the spot.