Literature and Poetry (Rhetoric Stage)

Service Description

Description: In this semester-length course, students will undertake an in-depth study of Hamlet (William Shakespeare) and A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens). Rhetoric-level literature study in classical education hones advanced analysis, interpretation, and persuasive communication, fostering profound insights and effective discourse. Beyond delving into these timeless texts, our course inspires students to appreciate the good, true, and beautiful aspects of literature. Memorising poetry and enhancing oratory skills is an integral part of the course. This focus allows students to contemplate the great ideas of the past. Students will be required to commit poetry to memory and develop their oratory skills. The grade for this course will be based on class participation (reading, comprehension questions, and Socratic discussion), submitted coursework questions, and a final examination. Prerequisites: For this course, students need a strong foundation in literature study, proficiency in critical thinking, and the ability to articulate reasoned interpretations. Students should have previously engaged with the basics of literary analysis, preparing them for deeper exploration at the rhetoric level. Required Materials: Students must have their own copies of Hamlet (William Shakespeare) and A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens). Currently, Via Classica does not stock any novels or plays; these will need to be purchased elsewhere. They will need an A4 exercise book for notes. Students will need a headset microphone and will use Microsoft Teams and Microsoft OneNote to submit work and participate in live classes. Course sessions: This course will commence in week starting February 3. There are two one-hour sessions each week. These sessions will be on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 am (AEDT/AEST). There will be a term break from April 14 until April 25. Classes resume in the week commencing April 28. The final week of classes for this course will be held during the week commencing June 23. There are no classes on March 19 (Feast of St. Joseph) and June 9 (King’s Birthday). Instructor: Mrs. Elizabeth Matheson