Lesson 1 and Introductory Materials

British Literature


Course description: A survey of the most interesting British and American writers from the early years to the present. A Christian worldview of literature is taught in appreciating and critiquing literature.

Course Requirements
Course Readings through Norton Anthology Link


There will be an extensive amount of reading in this course. Links will be specified and assignments will be able to read and completed using the online link.

Summaries of all required readings will be one page in length and kept in your portfolio for end of course grading.

A Well Organized Portfolio
You will need a 3 ring binder to keep all assignments, course work, and printed materials. Please organize this neatly and make it easy for the professor to find your items.

One Creative Writing Project

This project will consist of an original creative writing project. Please construct your own 6-10 pages in length version of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.” Please use authentic old English, and a similar rhyming pattern. The story line is up to you!

Tests and Quizzes

You will have 4 quizzes. They will be taken online through the Norton portal. You will email them to me - there will be an option for this while you are signing in to take the quiz. Your final exam will consist of a 10 page paper summarizing the history of British literature through the ages.

Lesson One Assignments:

Begin reading assignments on the Middle Ages.

You will begin with this link as introduction.

Please read the following pieces of English Literature from the Middle Ages.

Ancrene Riwle

Chronicles of England

Read Aelfric


Please write your summary of each reading topic for this week. The summary should cover each text that you read and give a brief 1-2 paragraph synopsis for each text the total summary should be at least one page per week.  Each week you will be responsible to develop this summary covering the reading assignments for the week. Please designate a section in your portfolio for these summaries.