6-9 Literature Curriculum

Our 6-9 literature curriculum engages students with classical texts and historical narratives, fostering critical thinking, moral reflection, and a deeper understanding of history.

6th Grade

  • The Epic of Gilgamesh – Ancient Mesopotamian epic exploring heroism and mortality.
  • Tales from Ancient Egypt – Stories of gods, pharaohs, and ancient Egyptian culture.
  • Exodus – Biblical narrative of liberation and faith.
  • The Iliad – Homer’s epic of the Trojan War, focusing on honor and conflict.
  • The Odyssey – Odysseus’ journey home, filled with adventure and perseverance.
  • Aesop’s Fables – Short tales with moral lessons.
  • A Triumph for Flavius – A story of courage and loyalty in ancient Rome.
  • The Bronze Bow – A tale of faith and resistance in Roman-occupied Judea.
  • Tales from the Arabian Nights – Enchanting stories from the Islamic Golden Age.
  • Light reading or catch-up (e.g., revisit Aesop’s Fables).
  • Buffer for review, essays (e.g., “Was Flavius fair?”), history units (e.g., Roman Republic), or activities (e.g., Greek skit).

7th Grade

  • The Story of King Arthur and His Knights – Medieval tales of chivalry and leadership.
  • The Once and Future King (Book I: The Sword in the Stone) – Arthur’s youth and magical education.
  • The Legend of the Cid – A Spanish epic of honor and reconquest.
  • The Adventures of Robin Hood – Tales of justice and camaraderie in Sherwood Forest.
  • The Saracen Blade – A Crusades-era story of adventure and cultural clash.
  • The Door in the Wall – A medieval boy’s journey of resilience and faith.
  • Catherine, Called Birdy – A humorous look at medieval life through a young girl’s eyes.
  • Light reading or catch-up (e.g., revisit The Adventures of Robin Hood).
  • Buffer for review, essays (e.g., “Was Arthur a true king?”), history units (e.g., Reconquista), or activities (e.g., knight’s shield craft).

8th Grade

  • Romeo and Juliet – Shakespeare’s tragic tale of love and conflict.
  • The Faerie Queene – Spenser’s allegorical epic of virtue and heroism.
  • Twelfth Night – Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identities.
  • Selected Sonnets (Shakespeare) – Poetic explorations of love and time.
  • The Prince and the Pauper – Twain’s tale of swapped identities in Tudor England.
  • Selected Poems (Donne) – Metaphysical poetry on love and faith.
  • Selected Poems (Herbert) – Devotional poetry with spiritual depth.
  • The Pilgrim’s Progress – Bunyan’s allegory of a Christian journey.
  • Robinson Crusoe – Defoe’s story of survival and self-reliance.
  • Gulliver’s Travels – Swift’s satirical adventure across fantastical lands.
  • Light reading or catch-up (e.g., revisit Selected Sonnets).
  • Buffer for review, essays (e.g., “Was Edward just?”), history units (e.g., Tudor England), or activities (e.g., perform Twelfth Night scene).

9th Grade

  • The Scarlet Letter – Hawthorne’s tale of sin and redemption in Puritan America.
  • Selected Works (Edgar Allan Poe) – Gothic tales and poems exploring the human psyche.
  • Huck Finn – Twain’s exploration of friendship and morality on the Mississippi.
  • Selected Poems – Various American poets, reflecting diverse themes.
  • The Great Gatsby – Fitzgerald’s critique of the American Dream.
  • The Grapes of Wrath – Steinbeck’s portrayal of resilience during the Great Depression.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird – Lee’s story of justice and empathy in the segregated South.
  • Catcher in the Rye – Salinger’s coming-of-age tale of alienation.
  • The Old Man and the Sea – Hemingway’s story of perseverance and honor.