This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Continue to advance your critical thinking skills through the analysis of literature and film. Join us as we go deep into the study of literary devices and how they translate into film.
Total classes: 12
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade; 9th to 10th grade students are welcome on the parents’ judgment since some movies contain mature themes (see the list of movies under the Course Outline).
Suggested credit: One full semester English, Literature, or Film & Literary Analysis
Special notes: This is Part Two of a two-part course. Though students can sign up for both parts or take the courses independently, it is recommended that students sign up for and complete both courses.
Description
This course continues literary analysis of written and cinematic works and their accompanying writing assignments to strengthen your student’s critical thinking, literary analysis, and upper-level writing skills. Using movies as well as published works, students study structure, character development, scene, setting, plot, and theme – with the purpose of preparing for the study of literature at the college level. Students will view movies biweekly with a parent or on their own in order to discuss the elements of literature. On alternate weeks, class discussion will focus on selected texts only, while employing critical thinking skills.
Outline
Class 1: Analyzing Quo Vadis
Part I — Scene and setting presented in the movie
Class 2: Analyzing Quo Vadis
Part II — Comparison of scene and setting from movie to book
Class 3: Analyzing Gulliver’s Travels
Part I — Theme presented in the movie
Class 4: Analyzing Gulliver’s Travels
Part II — Comparison of theme from movie to book
Class 5: Analyzing A Tale of Two Cities
Part I — Plot and conflict presented in the movie
Class 6: Analyzing A Tale of Two Cities
Part II — Comparison of plot and conflict from movie to book
Class 7: Analyzing Ben Hur
Part I — Character development presented in the movie
Class 8: Analyzing Ben Hur
Part II — Comparison of character development from movie to book
Class 9: Analyzing Great Expectations
Part I — Plot twist
Class 10: Analyzing Great Expectations
Part II — Comparison of plot twist from movie to book
Class 11: Analyzing Les Miserables (1982 version)
Part I — Character arc
Class 12: Analyzing Les Miserables
Part II — Comparison of character arc from movie to book
Materials and Homework
Course Materials: Students will access available movies and books on their own or through resources provided. Because some of the classic works are secular, parents may wish to pre-screen the cinematic version and fast-forward through any potentially sensitive material. All analysis will be filtered through the faith-based, Catholic perspective.
Homework: Your student should expect to spend an estimated three to four hours on homework outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability. Homework includes reading, viewing films, automated quizzes on odd weeks, and short essay assignments (1 to 2 pages) on even weeks. To increase your student’s skills, the instructor grades writing assignments with direct feedback. It is recommended that students begin familiarizing themselves with the books before the first day of class, since there is substantial reading in this course. Week 11 may be used as a catch-up period at the instructor’s discretion, and the focus of Week 12 may be limited to discussion of the movie Les Miserables only.
Important Dates
Class Dates: Fridays, January 12 to April 12, 2024. (No class Feb. 16 or March 29.)
Starting Time: 1:00 PM Eastern (noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Registration link
