Comments on: I Hate Literary Analysis – Part 4

By: Wheatie

Wheatie — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:48:53 +0000

We also have used a literature based curriculum, with the kids reading tons of fabulous books. I never have gotten around to using the instructor’s guide or doing anything approaching “literary analysis” though. The result: The kids love fabulous books and pick them up on their own (Example: my 11 y/o reading Swiss Family Robinson-the whole thing not the condensed version-aloud to her 8 y/o brother, who begged for more every night). They create and act out plays based upon Howard Pyle’s Robin Hood (liberally using words such as “quaffed”) and Tolkien’s Ring trilogy (with paper bag puppets).
I’m currently working on transcripts for my 15 year old and realize her reading list will be pages long because she continues to read great literature on her own.
I think we’ll be fine.

By: Wheatie

Wheatie — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:38:30 +0000

I also have used literature based curriculum, but have never got around to using the instructors guides and doing more than reading the books and sometimes discussing them. The result: the kids have read TONS of fabulous books. Even my 7th and 5th graders get into the fun when we read Shakespeare aloud (the real thing, not something condensed or changed into “Modern English”).
We were recently looking at a catalog for a more “standard” curriculum that I’m sure does tons of “literary analysis.” In 4 years of high school English, they read a total of 3 full books and “excerpts” from others.

By: Peggy Rockstroh

Peggy Rockstroh — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:11:53 +0000

Lee, I loved your photos that went with this story. I have a 14 yr old boy who doesn’t like literay analysis either but does love to read, so I can relate. But I must be doing something right, too. My son has been going to the local chapter of the English Country Dance group with me for the last 18 months and is loving it. He is trying to encourage some younger people to go, too. He read Pride and Prejudice at 10 and hasn’t done all Jane’s other books, but has seen several of the movies and listened to audio books. And he enjoys talking about them with other people, so I guess that is literary analysis.

By: Alice

Alice — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:04:50 +0000

Oh, I love the pictures!! Thank you for sharing your feelings about Literary Analysis so honestly. I am learning so much from you. Thank you again.

By: KB

KB — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:54:13 +0000

WOW!!! This is awesome! Your son put this event together? That is incredible!

I love that you said, “I was SO stressed out about literature analysis. It seemed like we always failed at reading comprehension and the review questions that were provided.”

Yes! Yes! I am there, too! But I KNOW my children understand what they read and what we have talked about because they retain it and it pops up in conversation later.

I think the review questions on the standard tests mess up opinionated children; for instance, on global warming articles if the children disagree with the premise, they are loathe to put the answer the test expects. Ah, but you give me hope. My child’s worth is not revealed by a testing score.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:43:27 +0000

Hi Teresa,
I agree, there are children who like literary analysis and work best that way – just like some are a good fit for workbooks or hands on projects. It’s all about the fit. We did use the writing program “Learn to Write the Novel Way” to get the terminology of literary analysis.
Blessings,
Lee

By: Teresa Burnham

Teresa Burnham — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:54:21 +0000

I enjoyed reading these articles. I am coming from the other aspect, I think. We have done so little besides “just reading”, and I haven’t stressed about it, but I would like to add in just a bit here and there. I want all my kids to recognize the terminology, etc. We are trying Progeny Press this year–I plan to pick from it, and use it for vocab stimulation, and I don’t know what else. It’s kind of an experiment.

And I think we should remember there will be those few children who may happen to love both reading AND literary analysis and be good at it. My oldest daughter is like that (she’s graduated now). Of course with them they gravitate toward it and pick it up so easy, so it wasn’t like I had to work to encourage her there.

By: Lee

Lee — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:34:39 +0000

Dante’s Inferno! Is it very strange to say “sounds like fun?” LOL!
Blessings,
Lee

By: Diane Allen

Diane Allen — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:02:54 +0000

OK – my boys didn’t love Jane Austen but they both enjoyed Hawthorne and Shakespeare among others. I called my recent graduate one winter day and asked what he was doing on his day off work. The answer: I’m reading The Inferno. I remember we read part of it in high school and thought I’d enjoy the whole thing!

By: Can't Get Enough Jane Austen? | The HomeScholar Helper

Can't Get Enough Jane Austen? | The HomeScholar Helper — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:31:05 +0000

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