Download Themes in Western Literature Summer Reading Project

Naperville Central Communication Arts
Western Literature and Art
Pre-Reading List
Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]
with any questions you might have.
Happy reading, thinking, and seeing the world in new
(and old) ways!
As required reading for Western Literature, you are to acquire and read Edith Hamilton’s
Mythology (any edition), a definitive summary of all the Greek myths, gods, goddesses, and
bloodlines. Forming the basis of the Western canon, these heroes, their stories, and their
patron deities lay the foundation for The Odyssey and other Greek plays you will read early in
the semester, all of which presume you have a working knowledge of classical mythology. The
book is in seven parts; you will only be held accountable for information in Part One through
Part Five (inclusive). There will be an 80-or-so-item exam the second day of class where you
will be required to match important characters and places to a description of that character,
action, or place (for example, you would match “god of poetry, light and medicine” to Apollo;
and you would match “originated from the foam of the sea” to Aphrodite). Other portions of
the objective exam may be multiple choice, true/false, and/or fill in the blank. Since doing well
on this exam requires a fresh knowledge base, it is suggested that if you read this over the
summer or fall, you should take time to review it carefully over winter break. After reading the
book and when studying for the exam, take a look at the list below, and if you are unsure of
who the character is or what the place is and the events surrounding it, brush up on your
knowledge base.
Know events surrounding and relationships among the following (flash cards or creating a list
with definitions as you come across these in the reading may be a good way to study):
Persephone, Hades, Helius, Dionysus, Thebes, Semele, Zeus, Nysa, Hera, Ocean and
Tethys, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Phoebe, Hades, Athena, Delphi, Ares,
Thrace, Hermes, Demeter, Hestia, Persephone, Hephestus, Graces, Muses, Naiads,
Underworld, Styx, Cerberus, Elysian Fields: Lethe, Furies, Satyrs; Ureads, Dryads;
Centaurs, Gorgons, Medusa, Sirens, Fates, Clotho, Laches, Atropos, Titans, Olympus,
Maenads (Bacchantes), Thebes, Cyclopes, Crete, Argo, Argos, Harpies, Aeneas,
Trojans, Amazons, Colchis; Scylla and Charybdis; Jason, Odysseus, Aeneas, Corinth,
Medea, Pegasus, Bellerophon, Chimera, Labyrinth, Minotaur; Troy, Paris, Helen from
the house of Menelaus, Myrmidons, Achilles, Ithaca, Carthage, Dido, Cronus, Eros,
Atlas, Prometheus, Teiresias, Oedipus, Heracles, Pan, Aeolus, Zephyr, Janus, Ariadne,
Pandora, Parthenos, Delos, Atreus, Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Thyestes, Atreus,
Aegisthus, Orestes, Iphigenia, Electra, Jocasta, Etocles, Polynices, Antigone, Ismene,
Creon, Laius, Uranus, Gaea
Notice the relationship between the above name and other family members in “The Principal Gods” and
“The Royal House of Thebes and the Atreidae” family trees at the back of the book. On the exam, some
names from the list above may be left out, and it will be your job to write them back it. Also make sure
you know how to line up the Greek name with the Roman equivalent (ex. Zeus = Jupiter).
**There are limited copies of the book available in NCHS’s library.**
Over for more!
How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
The summer reading text for all weighted students is How to Read Literature Like a Professor by
Thomas C. Foster.
Your task: Write a cohesive essay that insightfully connects Foster’s book to Hamilton’s
Mythology.
A-quality essay: All requirements of a “B” essay (below) are in evidence, but with a greater degree of
analytical insight and writing sophistication. The entry balances generalization with specific illustrative
details with considerable skill, maintains coherence through thoughtful transitions from one point to
another, and establishes a consistent voice throughout the response. Furthermore, the essay is unusually
insightful and shows an uncommon sensitivity to the ideas of the texts being discussed, ideas that strike
the reader as aptly chosen for points of discussion.
B-quality essay: The entry is well-written and constitutes evidence of thoughtful interaction with the text.
The evidence is displayed through some or all of the following:
 Chosen myths from Hamilton’s Mythology are analyzed meaningfully in light of Foster’s text.
 Texts are correctly and effectively cited and thoughtfully elaborated on.
 Meaningful questions are addressed
 Insights into the chosen text’s meaning are clearly articulated
C-quality essay: The entry aspires to reach the requirements of the “B” level entry (above) but falls short
by no more than two of the following: (1) writing about the text superficially, without meaningful
exploration of meaning, characterization, symbolism, etc.; (2) not providing enough textual substantiation
for assertions; (3) not clearly connecting the evidence to the assertions in a meaningful way, thus causing
confusion; (4) merely summarizing a text; and (5) writing sloppily or poorly.
D or F quality: The entry falls short of the requirements of the “B” quality entry (above) (The above is only slightly
adapted from B. Osset at
by more than two deficiencies explained above (“C” quality), or with one or more of
http://www.loveland.k12.oh.us)
those deficiences with an unusual degree of severity.
Format expectations: Conform to MLA format in terms of the heading, header, title, spacing, margins,
parenthetical citation, etc. Consult online resources (Google “MLA essay format” or “MLA sample essay”)
to be sure you are conforming to MLA expectations. Include a title (effective titles suggest content and
grab interest), but do not include a title page. Determine an interpretive lens, craft an introduction with
body paragraphs, and bring closure through a concluding paragraph. Employ third person literary
analysis, avoiding a first-person, reader-response format. For print sources, parenthetically cite the page
number of textual evidence; for electronic sources, do not include a page number unless you are viewing
static (.pdf, likely) pages. You do not need to include a works cited page for the two sources you will
reference. Note that MLA format calls for a non-justified right margin (
and italicized titles of full-length works.
), quotes around chapter titles,
Length expectations: An essay of this scope would require an essay somewhere in the range of three to
four pages. (Frequently asked question: Is that single or double spaced? MLA format requires double
spaced, 12-point font).
Suggestions: Since you cannot connect everything between the two texts, pick two, three, or four
connections to unpack in a sophisticated, insightful way. It is far better to bite off a smaller bit and
sufficiently chew it than to bite off more than you can chew and gag on it.
Due date: On day one of class, Mr. Tompkins will instruct you when and how to submit the essay to
Canvas for turnitin.com to get a look at it and for him to grade it electronically. Avoid plagiarism; give
credit where it is due. All school and department policies apply concerning academic honesty.