High School British Literature Curriculum For The Anglo-Saxon & Medieval Eras

How To Homeschool High School: British Literature Curriculum Lesson Plans Anglo-Saxon & Medieval Eras

This post will discuss homeschool curriculum to help you homeschool high school British literature. It will focus primarily on the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval eras in Britain which span from 450 AD to 1066 AD.

Introduction to British literature

From the earliest written work of British literature to the literary greats of the twentieth century, get ready to explore high school British literature!  Learn about the earliest poets, English short stories, and (in an upcoming post) the Victorian periods most fascinating authors.  You’ll also take a stroll through contemporary authors who spin the idea of the worlds of heroes in a way no one could have dreamed possible. 

As an introduction to studying British literature and composition, a high schooler will want to have undertaken the study of grammar and the completion of a language arts curriculum to ensure they are well prepared to study these classics. While studying American literature first may be helpful,  it is not generally required for well-read high schoolers. Creative writing and short story study are helpful also but again, are not a required pre-requisite since there will be plenty of opportunity to explore these areas whilst learning about British Literature.

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The Importance of British Literature in High School

Understanding the importance of British literature in high school can be a hard sell to many homeschooled high school students.  With creativity and an exciting lesson plan with answer keys that engage students in the history and literature of the era, thoughtful dialogue and incredible insight can be gained.  With the end goal of establishing a love of literature that will last through adulthood and the ability to allow quality classic literature to produce a broader worldview and love of people, the study of British Literature becomes a building block in understanding society through the ages.

The Major Authors and Works of British Literature

The list of major authors in each section below is not exhaustive. So keep in mind that you may find your student loves a particular era and wishes to camp there and take it all in slowly. This is ok.  Study the literature, history, and science of each era together allowing it to weave a beautiful tapestry of historical life. This provides a rich understanding to use throughout the education years as well as life-long learning opportunities.

The Anglo-Saxon period 450-1066

The Anglo-Saxon period in Britain is known for manuscripts written in Old English from the middle 5th century to about 1100 just a few decades after the Norman Conquest of 1066. High school literature from its era would include:

• Beowulf – a narrative poem.
• Caedmon’s Hymn – Perhaps the oldest hymn written in English was composed in the 7th century. It was rescued by Bede when he added it to one of his books in Latin.
• Bede, or Bede’s Death Song – A short poem written on his deathbed. This is the same Bede that rescued Caedmon’s hymn.
• Dream of the Rood – is considered the earliest English dream poetry.

High school students can enjoy taking an in-depth look at Beowulf at the British Library. Oftentimes, British literature in the style of Beowulf will have monsters and heroes as their main characters. Understanding their symbolism is key to grasping the importance of this time-honored poem. Listen to the opening lines of Beowulf in Old English and explore other literary works from 1000-1060.

High School British Literature Resources for the Anglo-Saxon Period

• Beowulf – Head over to The Nurtured Bee and scroll down the shop page to find this super affordable digital download or grab the Brit Lit Vol. 1 Old English: Beowulf workbook.
• Caedmon’s Hymn – this old English was composed in the 7th century. Choose from one of these unit studies for an in-depth look.
• Bede, or Bede’s Death Song – A short poem written on his deathbed. Bede was a prolific historian and wrote about a variety of subjects.
• Dream of the Rood – Choose from one of these unit studies for an in-depth look at this old English dream poem.

The Middle Ages 1066-1485

British literature of the middle and late medieval periods contains many works written in Middle English, which came about after Norman dialects became commonplace as the political power of the country was no longer under English control. British literature from this era is not to be missed. Highschoolers that love all things medieval and British will enjoy these books:

• Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
• Confessio Amantis, by John Gower
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian romance full of classic British chivalry.
• Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory
• Revelations of Devine Love by Julian of Norwich, an anchorite who lived a solitary life of prayer and devotion to God.
• The Book of Margery Kempe considered the earliest autobiography in English is well worth reading alongside Julian of Norwich as they were contemporaries.
• Mystery Plays – a way of presenting Bible stories in a unique way during medieval religious festivals.
• Morality Plays- allegorical dramas where characters personify moral qualities or abstracts teaching a moral lesson. Examples would be charity advice or youth and death.

three categories of Middle English literature

While there are generally three categories of Middle English literature (Arthurian, courtly love, and religious), the most famous work of Chaucer does not fit into these categories. Nevertheless, Middle English literature is loved by young and old alike. High school 12th grade students or younger will enjoy exploring one of the three categories or choosing to read ‘companion’ works in preparation for projects or assignments such as 500-word essays for a literature and composition course.

Below are good groupings with will allow for a unique and enriching student experience using honors texts for college-bound high schoolers.

• Pair Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with Confessio Amantis, by John Gower
• First, read Revelations of Devine Love by Julian of Norwich and then read The Book of Margery Kempe.
• Enjoy looking for similarities and differences while reading the Mystery Plays and the Morality plays.
• To explore medieval chivalry read Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight both by the same medieval-era poet.

Review this historical period using the interactive English Literature Timeline for a deeper understanding of how literature changed over time.

High School British Literature Resources for the Middle Ages

• Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales –  scroll down the shop page for another great unit study from The Nurtured Bee.
• Confessio Amantis, by John Gower – A short overview of the poem from Oxford.
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight  – Online Unit Study.
• Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory – choose from any of these resources for further study.
• Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich. Choose one of these resources to earn more about this woman.
• The Book of Margery Kempe  – Online lesson about the first autobiography by a woman.
• Mystery Plays & Morality Plays – Six-lesson unit study on the mystery, morality & miracle plays.

You may also enjoy these medieval literature resources from the British Library. 

High school British Literature Curriculum: Full-Year Online Courses

Companion Studies for your High School British Literature Curriculum

Conclusion

A complete curriculum of British literature may even include a lesson plan for each book studied or you may find that a course using selected excerpts will work well for your homeschooler. Either way, adding British Literature to your high school curriculum lineup is vital to a well-rounded education that will allow you and your family to continue to use the world as your classroom by inspiring you to explore in person or virtually the places you enjoy during your studies.

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