The 10th Grade Reading Standards
Article
“How Classics Create an Aliterate Society” by Donald R. Gallo is an excellent article from the NCTE’s English Journal that explores the reasons why young adult students are more interested in novels of their own choice versus the classics required by teachers. This article encourages teachers to teach the “new” and less challenging novels that young adults are more interested in the same ways that they would teach the classics.
Article
“How Classics Create an Aliterate Society” by Donald R. Gallo is an excellent article from the NCTE’s English Journal that explores the reasons why young adult students are more interested in novels of their own choice versus the classics required by teachers. This article encourages teachers to teach the “new” and less challenging novels that young adults are more interested in the same ways that they would teach the classics.
The Proposed Classic 1
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Themes:
· Civilization vs. Savagery
· Man vs. Nature
· Good vs. Evil
· Loss of Innocence
· Survival of the Fittest
The Proposed Alternative 1
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Theme Connector:
Suzanne Collins has become a popular author of novels that appeal to young adults by featuring the stories and struggles of young adults in a futuristic, dystopian society. The first novel of her series, The Hunger Games, would be a current way to introduce the classic Lord of the Flies by William Golding and engage young adult readers with themes of people forced into situations that make them discover the true nature of their identities.
In Collins’ novel, the female protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is forced to choose between being civilized and being savage in an attempt to survive, much like the boys stranded on the deserted island in Golding’s classic novel. Both novels demonstrate the loss of innocence of the young adults in the novels as they battle with nature, with others, and with themselves and all without adult guidance or supervision. The themes of these novels are very similar and keep readers on the edge of their seats with the stories of survival and the costs and changes associated with survival.
Other Similar Books
1. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
3. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
4. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
5. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Activities
1. Survival Knowledge Interactive Quiz
2. Introductory Videos
3. “Just Because” Poems
4. Discussion Questions and Study Guides
Suzanne Collins has become a popular author of novels that appeal to young adults by featuring the stories and struggles of young adults in a futuristic, dystopian society. The first novel of her series, The Hunger Games, would be a current way to introduce the classic Lord of the Flies by William Golding and engage young adult readers with themes of people forced into situations that make them discover the true nature of their identities.
In Collins’ novel, the female protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is forced to choose between being civilized and being savage in an attempt to survive, much like the boys stranded on the deserted island in Golding’s classic novel. Both novels demonstrate the loss of innocence of the young adults in the novels as they battle with nature, with others, and with themselves and all without adult guidance or supervision. The themes of these novels are very similar and keep readers on the edge of their seats with the stories of survival and the costs and changes associated with survival.
Other Similar Books
1. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
3. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
4. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
5. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Activities
1. Survival Knowledge Interactive Quiz
2. Introductory Videos
3. “Just Because” Poems
4. Discussion Questions and Study Guides
The Proposed Classic 2
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Themes:
· Fate vs. Free Will
· Power Struggle/Fear of Power
· Friendship and Betrayal
· Misunderstandings/Misinterpretations
· Conspiracy and Manipulation
The Proposed Alternative 2
Emperor: The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden
Theme Connector:
Emperor: The Gates of Rome is the first of a series of books by a relatively new author, Conn Iggulden, that acts as a prequel to Shakespeare’s classic play Julius Caesar with a more modern feel.
The same themes are covered in Iggulden’s novel as is in Julius Caesarexcept this novel would give students a better historicalunderstanding of the time period for which it is set. It would also help to read this prequel after a unit on Julius Caesar to help summarize how Caesar came to power and all of the events associated with that power.
Other Similar Books
1. Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers
2. The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People’s History of Ancient Rome by Michael Parenti
3. Arms of Nemesis by Steven Saylor
4. I, Claudius by Robert Graves
5. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Activities
1. 60-Second Shakespeare
2. Analyzing Soliloquies
3. Cartoon Video that introduces main themes
4. Vocabulary, Discussion Questions, and Study Guides
Emperor: The Gates of Rome is the first of a series of books by a relatively new author, Conn Iggulden, that acts as a prequel to Shakespeare’s classic play Julius Caesar with a more modern feel.
The same themes are covered in Iggulden’s novel as is in Julius Caesarexcept this novel would give students a better historicalunderstanding of the time period for which it is set. It would also help to read this prequel after a unit on Julius Caesar to help summarize how Caesar came to power and all of the events associated with that power.
Other Similar Books
1. Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers
2. The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People’s History of Ancient Rome by Michael Parenti
3. Arms of Nemesis by Steven Saylor
4. I, Claudius by Robert Graves
5. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Activities
1. 60-Second Shakespeare
2. Analyzing Soliloquies
3. Cartoon Video that introduces main themes
4. Vocabulary, Discussion Questions, and Study Guides
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