Penny_P Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 One part of me likes the idea of just having a reading book from classic authors with questions regarding the excerpt. The other part thinks a whole book should be necessary to truly get it. Does anyone have suggestions for a reading book with classical selections? Or for some other literary analysis? We're Catholic, but it doesn't have to be Catholic, per se. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 I do not believe excerpts do the works and authors justice. I'd rather have my children read fewer or shorter selections in their entirety than working with an anthology that contains only pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny_P Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Regentrude- I knew that spelling didn't look right! :) So what did you use for analysis when your kiddos were younger? I have previously felt the same way, but I'm exploring other options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Regentrude- I knew that spelling didn't look right! :) feeling mortified... that's NOT why I italicized the word! I meant to emphasize that excerpts don't work for me, not point out the spelling So what did you use for analysis when your kiddos were younger? I have previously felt the same way, but I'm exploring other options. Honestly? We read books and talked about them. I did not do any formal "analysis" with my kids at that age (not until high school). They were quite good at discovering aspects of it on their own, seeing themes, story arcs, atmosphere, foreshadowing... without anybody pointing out those things. Both are heavily into creative writing, and I have always felt letting them write their own stories and novels contributed greatly to their understanding of literature. I always hated picking literature apart and analyzing it to death; so much is obvious, and it destroys the books. I introduce formal lit analysis in high school so they are familiar with the terms and learn to write analysis papers, but up to then, we school very informally and just read large amounts of quality literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 I always hated analyzing novels & plays to death in English class. I have decided to confine this type of analysis exercise to short stories and poems, because that's a "one and done" type thing instead of dragging on for weeks. My DD's strongest suit is LA, so I'm using a high school textbook (EMC Masterpieces Language Arts and Literature: World Literature) but if that's too advanced, look into Mosdos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 You might take a look at Lightning Literature. They do a combination of short stories/excerpts plus full length novels. It doesn't start until 7th grade, but I've heard of people using the 7th grade level before 7th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny_P Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Thanks for giving me curriculum to look through. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimerinkydo Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I'm looking at Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages by Harold bloom. It has poems and short stories by classic authors. I'm thinking of choosing a few authors and reading their short works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Definitely consider Lightning Literature. It's fine to work a year or two ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Lightning Lit 7 was an enjoyable introduction for both my kids when they were in 6th grade. (not as impressed with the LL high school series) We also did Progeny Press guides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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