Better than just another high school English class!
The Lukeion Project, we put a high priority on writing, especially analytical and research writing. To that end, we offer a variety of literature courses to build your student's careful reading and writing skills. Follow the links to read more about these courses. Wondering which classes are best suited to your student? Visit our recommended course of study page with more details about recommended ages and skill levels.
Muse Literature in Translation Series - click for more info (2 semesters)
Recommended ages: 15 -18+. Our two semester Muse Series leads your reader though the very best of Greek and Latin literature in translation. Dr. Fisher requires a variety of creative, yet analytical, writing assignments to build specific skills while mastering the elements of Greek and Latin literature. In the autumn semester we introduce the 5 major genres of Greek literature with selections in translation from poetry, history, philosophy, drama and science /mathematics. Readings span Homer to Hellenistic writers such as Polybius, Callimachus and Galen. We give special attention to the plays of Aristophanes & Euripides, the philosophy of Plato & Aristotle and the historical accounts of Herodotus, Thucydides & Xenophon. In the spring semester we look at the literature of the Romans from the earliest interpretations of Greek dramas through the writings of the Imperial Age. Through drama, poetry, history, philosophy, and satire, students will follow the history and thought life of the Roman people. Authors include Plautus, Lucretius, Cicero, Catullus, Horace, Vergil, Ovid, Petronius, Livy, Josephus, and Tacitus in translation. Excellent transitional course between essay writing and research papers.
The Classical Bard: Shakespeare's Greeks & Romans - click for more info (1 semester--spring)
Recommended ages: 16 - 18+. Here's your chance to read some of the best pieces by Shakespeare while develop a number of important composition and analysis skills. The Bard of Avon loved Classical themes almost as much as we do. Get ready to visit some of his very best pieces in this one semester course. We will cover Shakespeare’s Roman plays (Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, & Coriolanus) plus A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in ancient Athens. Along the way we will examine how ancient writers influenced Shakespeare’s ideas. Expect exams and various writing projects. There will be group reading (of course) so a microphone is required. An excellent complement to The Classical Bard course is our autumn Composition and Research course.
Classical Mythology Series - click for more info (2 semesters)
Recommended ages: 16 -18+. Our two semester Mythology series presents essential Greek and Latin mythological literature, and then sets them in their cultural and historical context. Students complete a number of creative, yet analytical, writing assignments plus a 7-page research paper which they develop throughout the semester. Amy Barr walks them through the steps of the research paper as various stages are due in succession. We cover the Olympians & the Trojan cycle while reading Homer's Iliad & Odyssey, tragedy Hecuba. In the second semester, we focus on literature and tales about heroes Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, and Jason plus Roman mythological literature with a reading of Vergil’s Aeneid and Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Greek tragedies Oedipus Rex and Medea round out the second semester. Caveat: while mythology is often a special treat for younger readers, in this high school level course we will read ancient literature that includes violence (and even cursing) on the battlefield, Greek tragedies, and a few eyebrow-raising foibles of various Olympians. This course may or may not be suitable for your much younger gifted student due to literary content.
Contact Amy Barr with questions about course suitability for younger (than high school) students.
Other Writing Courses at The Lukeion Project
Composition & Research - click for more info (1 semester)
Recommended ages: 16-18+
We cover the basics of academic writing including thesis statements, topic sentences, academic tone, active vs. passive voice, and other elements necessary to succeed in college composition classes. Assignments are short and skill-based. We will write several short papers that give an opportunity to thoroughly practice skills being taught. Good companion to Myth., History, & Advanced Research Writing. -R. Baty
AP English Literature - click for more info (2 semesters)
Recommended ages: 17+ College Board-approved AP course prepares students for AP English Lit. exam offered May (local arrangements). We engage in careful reading & critical analysis of imaginative literature. Explore how writers use language to provide meaning & pleasure for their readers. Students learn to consider a work’s structure, style and themes, as well as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone. Writing intensive course. Expect summer readings. -R. Baty
Advanced Research Writing -click for more info (1 semester)
Recommended ages: 17+ (best after students have had Lukeion Myth and/or History or other research experience)
The dreaded research paper assignment strikes fear in the heart of most. Many will flounder at a college writing lab before they discover what makes a good research paper. A student’s final high school years are the best time to develop tools & techniques of scholarly research on a deadline. Participants should have access to a college/ university library. -R. Barr
Workshops on Classical Literature at The Lukeion Project
The First War: Homer’s Iliad
Of all ancient stories, no title is more recognizable than Homer’s Iliad. It is essential to understanding the national identity of both ancient Greeks & Romans. This well-illustrated workshop will place Achilles and his fellow-warriors in their context by filling in the gaps with the info that Homer assumed you already know. We’ll investigate the site of Troy plus geographical & cultural context plus the themes that make it relevant today. Recommended for rising AP Latin 4 students. Students should acquire and read the Lombardo translation in preparation. Adviso: workshop covers warfare themes and some romance. Summer workshop, June 11-14, 1 PM ET
Of Men and Monsters: Homer’s Odyssey
One of the first recorded adventure stories was written so well that modern readers still include it on their favorites list. Clashing rocks, one-eyed man-eating monsters, evil villains and undying love – it has something for everyone! This well-illustrated workshop will help you better understand the great work by including discussions from archaeology, geography, and related literature. Recommended for rising AP Latin 4 students. Students should acquire and read the Lombardo translation in preparation. Adviso: workshop covers warfare themes and some romance. Summer workshop, June 11-14, 3:30 PM ET
Gandalf meets Grendel: A Study of First Epics
In this workshop, avid readers will learn how Beowulf, the first great epic in English borrowed Homer’s epic elements while inspiring Tolkien’s creation of his own great epic, The Hobbit. For best results, student should be familiar with The Hobbit and Homer’s Iliad and/or Odyssey while enjoying this fascinating study of Beowulf. Students should acquire and read The Anglo-Saxon World: An Anthology and read Beowulf in preparation. Adviso: workshop includes monsters. Summer workshop, June 11-14, 3:30 PM ET
Knight Life: Tales of the Round Table
Who was King Arthur? We will briefly discuss the historical evidence, (was he an ally of the Romans before they left Britain?) and then concentrate on the traditional King Arthur legends. Expect to spend some time on the modern retellings such as The Dark is Rising. Finally, we will also talk about how King Arthur legends influence modern literature and society. Expect knights in shining armor and damsels in distress! Summer workshop, June 11-14, 2:15 PM ET
Check out all summer workshop options here.
NOTE:
College Application Essay-Writing Symposium, June 11, 14, 18, 21 2018 (1 PM ET)
This workshop will walk you through the process of writing that scary college application essay. Find out what admissions officers really want and get your essay finished during our 4-sessions! We’ll start with a rough draft and help you finish a well-crafted essay with 2 rounds of feedback while we cover essential college success skills.
Muse Literature in Translation Series - click for more info (2 semesters)
Recommended ages: 15 -18+. Our two semester Muse Series leads your reader though the very best of Greek and Latin literature in translation. Dr. Fisher requires a variety of creative, yet analytical, writing assignments to build specific skills while mastering the elements of Greek and Latin literature. In the autumn semester we introduce the 5 major genres of Greek literature with selections in translation from poetry, history, philosophy, drama and science /mathematics. Readings span Homer to Hellenistic writers such as Polybius, Callimachus and Galen. We give special attention to the plays of Aristophanes & Euripides, the philosophy of Plato & Aristotle and the historical accounts of Herodotus, Thucydides & Xenophon. In the spring semester we look at the literature of the Romans from the earliest interpretations of Greek dramas through the writings of the Imperial Age. Through drama, poetry, history, philosophy, and satire, students will follow the history and thought life of the Roman people. Authors include Plautus, Lucretius, Cicero, Catullus, Horace, Vergil, Ovid, Petronius, Livy, Josephus, and Tacitus in translation. Excellent transitional course between essay writing and research papers.
The Classical Bard: Shakespeare's Greeks & Romans - click for more info (1 semester--spring)
Recommended ages: 16 - 18+. Here's your chance to read some of the best pieces by Shakespeare while develop a number of important composition and analysis skills. The Bard of Avon loved Classical themes almost as much as we do. Get ready to visit some of his very best pieces in this one semester course. We will cover Shakespeare’s Roman plays (Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, & Coriolanus) plus A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in ancient Athens. Along the way we will examine how ancient writers influenced Shakespeare’s ideas. Expect exams and various writing projects. There will be group reading (of course) so a microphone is required. An excellent complement to The Classical Bard course is our autumn Composition and Research course.
Classical Mythology Series - click for more info (2 semesters)
Recommended ages: 16 -18+. Our two semester Mythology series presents essential Greek and Latin mythological literature, and then sets them in their cultural and historical context. Students complete a number of creative, yet analytical, writing assignments plus a 7-page research paper which they develop throughout the semester. Amy Barr walks them through the steps of the research paper as various stages are due in succession. We cover the Olympians & the Trojan cycle while reading Homer's Iliad & Odyssey, tragedy Hecuba. In the second semester, we focus on literature and tales about heroes Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, and Jason plus Roman mythological literature with a reading of Vergil’s Aeneid and Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Greek tragedies Oedipus Rex and Medea round out the second semester. Caveat: while mythology is often a special treat for younger readers, in this high school level course we will read ancient literature that includes violence (and even cursing) on the battlefield, Greek tragedies, and a few eyebrow-raising foibles of various Olympians. This course may or may not be suitable for your much younger gifted student due to literary content.
Contact Amy Barr with questions about course suitability for younger (than high school) students.
Other Writing Courses at The Lukeion Project
Composition & Research - click for more info (1 semester)
Recommended ages: 16-18+
We cover the basics of academic writing including thesis statements, topic sentences, academic tone, active vs. passive voice, and other elements necessary to succeed in college composition classes. Assignments are short and skill-based. We will write several short papers that give an opportunity to thoroughly practice skills being taught. Good companion to Myth., History, & Advanced Research Writing. -R. Baty
AP English Literature - click for more info (2 semesters)
Recommended ages: 17+ College Board-approved AP course prepares students for AP English Lit. exam offered May (local arrangements). We engage in careful reading & critical analysis of imaginative literature. Explore how writers use language to provide meaning & pleasure for their readers. Students learn to consider a work’s structure, style and themes, as well as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone. Writing intensive course. Expect summer readings. -R. Baty
Advanced Research Writing -click for more info (1 semester)
Recommended ages: 17+ (best after students have had Lukeion Myth and/or History or other research experience)
The dreaded research paper assignment strikes fear in the heart of most. Many will flounder at a college writing lab before they discover what makes a good research paper. A student’s final high school years are the best time to develop tools & techniques of scholarly research on a deadline. Participants should have access to a college/ university library. -R. Barr
Workshops on Classical Literature at The Lukeion Project
The First War: Homer’s Iliad
Of all ancient stories, no title is more recognizable than Homer’s Iliad. It is essential to understanding the national identity of both ancient Greeks & Romans. This well-illustrated workshop will place Achilles and his fellow-warriors in their context by filling in the gaps with the info that Homer assumed you already know. We’ll investigate the site of Troy plus geographical & cultural context plus the themes that make it relevant today. Recommended for rising AP Latin 4 students. Students should acquire and read the Lombardo translation in preparation. Adviso: workshop covers warfare themes and some romance. Summer workshop, June 11-14, 1 PM ET
Of Men and Monsters: Homer’s Odyssey
One of the first recorded adventure stories was written so well that modern readers still include it on their favorites list. Clashing rocks, one-eyed man-eating monsters, evil villains and undying love – it has something for everyone! This well-illustrated workshop will help you better understand the great work by including discussions from archaeology, geography, and related literature. Recommended for rising AP Latin 4 students. Students should acquire and read the Lombardo translation in preparation. Adviso: workshop covers warfare themes and some romance. Summer workshop, June 11-14, 3:30 PM ET
Gandalf meets Grendel: A Study of First Epics
In this workshop, avid readers will learn how Beowulf, the first great epic in English borrowed Homer’s epic elements while inspiring Tolkien’s creation of his own great epic, The Hobbit. For best results, student should be familiar with The Hobbit and Homer’s Iliad and/or Odyssey while enjoying this fascinating study of Beowulf. Students should acquire and read The Anglo-Saxon World: An Anthology and read Beowulf in preparation. Adviso: workshop includes monsters. Summer workshop, June 11-14, 3:30 PM ET
Knight Life: Tales of the Round Table
Who was King Arthur? We will briefly discuss the historical evidence, (was he an ally of the Romans before they left Britain?) and then concentrate on the traditional King Arthur legends. Expect to spend some time on the modern retellings such as The Dark is Rising. Finally, we will also talk about how King Arthur legends influence modern literature and society. Expect knights in shining armor and damsels in distress! Summer workshop, June 11-14, 2:15 PM ET
Check out all summer workshop options here.
NOTE:
College Application Essay-Writing Symposium, June 11, 14, 18, 21 2018 (1 PM ET)
This workshop will walk you through the process of writing that scary college application essay. Find out what admissions officers really want and get your essay finished during our 4-sessions! We’ll start with a rough draft and help you finish a well-crafted essay with 2 rounds of feedback while we cover essential college success skills.