K kepler-title
Teachers About Updates
Account Login Classroom Login Create Account
Teachers About Updates
Account Login Classroom Login Create Account
Search Courses Aspects and Actions of God in Classical Novels

Aspects and Actions of God in Classical Novels

$600.00/year
Aspects and Actions of God in Classical Novels
This class is currently archived, but if you're interested in it being taught again, you can express your interest here!
09/09/2020 - 05/14/2021
Full Year
1.0 credits in Literature
Grades 7-12

Taught by:

About the course

Aspects and Actions of God in Classical Novels is a literature course that begins with the premise that an author’s personal beliefs in the metaphysical underpinnings of reality directly influence what can and cannot happen in the world of the novels they write. From there, students will read from the works of three different novelists with three very different understandings of who God is, how He works in the world, how He intervenes to aid those who call upon him, and indeed whether or not He exists or cares about human affairs at all. Through these novels, students will also come to a better understanding of the rich craft of storytelling and how stories can make tangible the sometimes abstract ideas of philosophy and ethics.

This 32-week course consists of four eight-week quarters. Each quarter, students will be assigned a weekly pre-recorded lecture, reading appropriate for the week, relevant reading questions, a weekly 1.5-hour live recitation, and one 1200-word essay. Students will also be assigned a mid-term and a final exam. In the course of the year, students will have read all the texts listed below, listened to 32 lectures, written four essays and attended 32 live recitations to discuss the texts in Socratic fashion.

Course Objectives:

  1. To develop the habit of active, close reading and apply it to lengthy texts.
  2. To develop the ability to think and write syntopically about the authors, their novels, and the time periods in which they wrote.
  3. To nurture a better understanding of the impact of faith/belief on one’s actions.
  4. To compose reflective and comprehensive essays about the subjects covered.
  5. To instill a love of learning and learned discussion in the mind of the student.

Texts:

  • Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
  • Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist
  • Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, unabridged
  • Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge
  • Selections from Thomas Hardy’s poetry (which will be provided as PDFs)
  • Selections from various authors ranging from Aristotle to C.S. Lewis on the philosophy of art and literature (which will be provided as PDFs)

About the teacher