Welcome to English 4...
a study of British Literature!

The purpose of this course is to further develop the reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and critical thinking skills through the study of the development of the English language through British history and literature. During your senior year, we will focus on literature study, vocabulary development, writing, grammar, and research/reference skills which are necessary for your academic, professional, and personal success. We will explore a range of genres—fiction and nonfiction—from both a reading and writing standpoint. 

We will be studying and analyzing the influences on the modern English language from the Anglo-Saxons to the current era. 

As a reminder, I do not accept late work for daily grades (as outlined in classroom policies).

English IV Syllabus

ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD  (August 18 – September 5)

              Development of the English Language: Old English, Conversion of King Edwin, Story of Caedmon, Beowulf, Grendel, The Seafarer, The Wife’s Lament, and Anglo-Saxon Riddles.

MEDIEVAL PERIOD  (September 8 – October 3)

              Development of the English Language: Middle English, Ballads, The Canterbury Tales, The Book of Margery Kempe, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Le Morte d’Arthur, and The Art of Courtly Love.

RENAISSANCE  (October 6 – October 24)

            Development of the English Language: Modern English, Sonnets, Lyrical Poems, and the King James Bible.

RENAISSANCE DRAMA  (October 27 - November 7)

            Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

17^TH & 18^TH CENTURIES  (November 10 – December 12)

              Cavalier Poets, John Milton, Satire, Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson.

FALL FINALS – DECEMBER 15^th – 19^th

WINTER BREAK – DECEMBER  22^nd – JANUARY 3^rd  

ROMANTIC PERIOD  (January 5 – January 23)

            Romantic Thought: Burns, Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge; Vindication of the Rights of Woman; Second Gen: Byron, Shelley, Keats.

VICTORIAN ERA  (January 26 – February 27)

            The Brownings, Dickens, Brontes, Kipling, Tennyson.

MODERN ERA  (March 2 – March 27)

            Irish Theater, War Poets, World War I

POSTMODERN ERA  (March 30– April 24)

            Orwell, Thomas, Atwood, Lessing, Achebe; NOVEL STUDY &MAJOR PROJECT): Death on the Nile

CAREER PREPARATION  (April 27 – May 15)

            Resume building, professional letter writing, job interview practice; MAJOR PROJECT: Senior Memoir

SPRING FINALS – MAY 18^th – 22^nd