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.
Accomplish something BIG! As part of the Avid Reader/Listener Series, you will explore literature through reading or listening — a lot. This will be a worthy achievement … Les Misérables is rich with demonstrations of the Catholic faith, great vocabulary, and beautiful prose. Explore this magnificent iconic work of literature that many have not yet conquered.
Total classes: 14
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade; mature 9th or 10th grade students welcome.
Suggested credit: One full semester Literature credit
Description
What an opportunity to accomplish something BIG! Tackling this course in the Avid Reader/Listener Series is not for the faint of heart, yet Les Misérables is worth the effort to read and explore. Not only will you learn great vocabulary, but you will also delve into a weekly analysis of literary devices (elements and techniques), expanding your knowledge of what they are and how they are displayed in the assigned text. Finally, each week, we will use Socratic discussion to dig deeper into the moral dilemmas found in this engaging prose, all within the constructs of our Catholic faith. This course covers all five volumes of Les Misérables.
Outline
Classes 1-3: Volume 1
Classes 4-6: Volume 2
Classes 7-8: Volume 3
Classes 9-11: Volume 4
Classes 12-14: Volume 5
Materials and Homework
Course Materials:
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, unabridged, Translator:Isabel Florence Hapgood. Any edition translated by Isabel Florence Hapgood is acceptable. ISBN-13: 978-1420953268 or ISBN-13: 978-0486822181. Utilizing a used printed copy is fine and often more affordable (see www.bookfinder.com). A free digital version can be found at: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/135. An eBook or audiobook is welcomed too, as long as it is the Isabel Florence Hapgood translation. A free audio version can be found at: https://librivox.org/group/296. Other translations will not work well with this class.
Special Notes: Not all translations are the same, please note that this course uses the Isabel Florence Hapgood translation. Students are more than welcome to listen to the audiobook if they prefer it. Also, this is a companion course and is part of the Avid Reader/Listener Series — consider taking the War and Peace course if you haven’t already.
Online resource: This course utilizes free Quizlet sources and free PDF files. Students in this teacher-created Quizlet class have unlimited, free access to Test and Learn modes for the sets in those classes. A student must “join” this class on Quizlet for this feature to work correctly.
Homework:
Students should plan to read/listen around 5 hours per class. There will be a quiz/test/exam for each class covering literary devices and /or vocabulary.
