Jump to content

Menu

Medieval reading list-suggestions needed.


Recommended Posts

I have reviewed TWTM's high school level great books reading list until I practically know it by heart. We are not strictly secular, but I know my ds will not be interested in reading Augustine and Anselm.

 

Can anyone recommended some books from this era that are not so skewed toward early church doctrine? I plan so far on:

 

Consolation of Philosophy

Beowulf

The Inferno

Everyman

Sir Gawain

Canterbury Tales-selections

Le Morte D'Arthur-selections

The Prince

Education of a Christian Prince

 

That may be enough on its own. Any other suggestions? My impression of The Decameron is that it's pretty bawdy-is that correct? I'd rather avoid it if so.

 

Catherine

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hard to avoid church doctrine in this time period!

 

Yes, the Decameron is bawdy. Some are offended by certain Canterbury Tales and thus recommend pre-reading.

 

My son also read the Mabinogion. If your student feels a bit bogged down by the selections on your list, reading The Once and Future King is a nice break. We also enjoyed the Noble lectures on Medieval literature in the Great Authors of the Western Literary Tradition series. (This series is lengthy and expensive but fortunately our library has it.)

 

Not literature, but a book to consider reading while studying this time period is The Koran: A Very Short Introduction from Oxford University Press. The "Very Short" series from OUP has a number of delightful, "very short" volumes that go beyond an encyclopedia article but are quick and lively reads.

 

Jane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suggest The Once and Future King instead of Le Morte, unless your son really likes battles. The Once and Future King is much more readable. Of course, it was written in the 1900's so it's not a middle ages piece per say.

 

Your list may be enough. I substituted Utopia instead of The Prince. I thought it was more readable and the theme I'm trying to emphasize this yr with all these books is "How then shall we live," or "What makes the perfect man or society."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would highly recommend C. S. Lewis' book "The discarded Image" to start any medieval year. He does an excellent job of describing the 'world view' of the medieval mind (not just religion, but their thoughts about the natural world, the planets, common allusions, etc.)

 

What is your cutoff date? Many people throw in the Renaissance along with medieval so there is often a shakespeare play or two. I loved Utopia but my high school students didn't 'get it' as well as I thought. I wouldn't rule out Augustine either. My students found it extremely interesting and relevant to choices young people still face.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

possibly another play. In fact, I'm breaking the rules of chronological history because we're doing Hamlet this summer-then seeing a summer Shakespeare outdoor production of it. In fact one author I was considering for my math-loving ds is Newton, if I can find selections of Principia that are readable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...