CURRICULUM MAP
_____________British Literature_____________
MONTH
ESSENTIAL
QUESTIONS
Why study literature?
Week 1
TOPIC
Critical
thinking
CONTENT
(Terminology)
Analysis
Synthesis
Where does English
Literature begin?
Anglo Saxons
History
Heroic tradition
What is the difference
between Old English,
Middle English and
Modern English?
Beowulf
Characterization
SKILLS
Analyzing quotes
Defining classroom protocol
STANDARDS
12S 2:2
12R 1:1
Weeks 2-4
ASSESSMENT
RAFT
assignment
12R 2:1
th
The 13
Warrior
Characterize main
characters—using kennings
12R 3:1
Poetic license
Compare Beowulf and movie
The 13th Warrior
Kennings
12R 4:1
12W1:1
Oral tradition
The Seafarer
Identify kennings and use as
characterization
Elegaic tradition
Bede—The
History of the
English
Church and its
People
12W2:1
12W3:1
12W 4:1
1
Comparison
Paper
Written test—
Multiple choice,
matching and
short answer
Weeks 5-9
How does English
Literature change with
the influence of the
Normans?
What is Medieval
Romance?
Medieval
History
Canterbury
Tales—
Prologue and
The
Pardoner’s
Tale
Influence of Normans
12R 1:1
Characterization of pilgrims
12R 2:1
12R 3:1
Paraphrasing
12R 4:1
Sir Gawain
and the Green
Knight
Identify Medieval romance
characteristics in reading
Le Morte
D’Arthur
How are modern
ballads similar to
Medieval ballads?
Pilgrim
presentation
Class discussion
Medieval
Ballads—―Sir
Patrick Spens,‖
―Bonny
Barbara
Allen,‖ and
―Get up and
Bar the Door‖
Identify Medieval
characteristics in modern
ballads
2
Written test—
short answer,
multiple choice,
quote
identification
Macbeth
Weeks
9-13
How does one read
Shakespeare?
Elements of Plot
Decipher Shakespearian
English to find meaning
Foreshadowing
12R 1:1
12R 2:1
Read aloud and act out
scenes to ascertain meaning
What themes are
present in Macbeth that
are relevant to today’s
society?
Irony—
situational,
dramatic, and
verbal
Why read and watch
Shakespeare?
Tone
Class discussion
Mood
Choral reading
Watch stage production to
make connections
12R 3:1
12R 4:1
12W1:1
12W2:1
Quotation
analysis—Acts 1
and 3
Memorization of
passage—Acts 2
and 3
Reader Response
journal kept
throughout—
scene by scene
12W3:1
Characterization
--foils
12W 4:1
Elision
12L 1:1
Motifs and
symbolism
12L 2:1
12S 1:1
Conflict and
resolution
12S 2:1
Iambic
pentameter and
blank verse
Dynamic and
static characters
Imagery
3
Choral reading –
Witches in Act 3
Teaching scenesAct 5
Approach paper
End of play
Theme collage—
End of play
Essay test
End of play
Weeks 1314
How does one read and
appreciate poetry?
What is a sonnet?
What are the different
types?
Renaissance
poetry
Wyatt
Spenser
What is pastoral
poetry? Carpe Diem
poetry? Metaphysical
poetry?
Analyze a poem’s form—is it
a sonnet?
Imagery
12R 1:1
12R 2:1
Sonnet format
Italian
(Petrarchan) or
English
(Spenserian or
Shakespearian)
Detect figurative language
12R 3:1
Analyze imagery to
determine theme
12R 4:1
Compare poets and styles
12W1:1
Sidney
Shakespeare
Marlowe and
Raleigh
Figurative
language—
metaphor ,
conceit,
alliteration,
personification,
apostrophe
Donne
Theme
Marvell
Tone and mood
Herrick
Ben Jonson
Connotation and
denotation
Milton
4
12W2:1
12W3:1
12L 2:1
Written
explication of a
sonnet—line by
line explanation
in short essay
form
Open note test
comparing
imagery and
themes of sonnets
and the
Metaphysical
poets
Visual collage on
poetry themes.
To end of
semester
Who are some British
authors after 1600’s?
How does one
research?
What is MLA format?
How does one prepare
a bibliography?
Independent
research
project
History
sections for
Restoration,
Romantic and
Victorian Ages
MLA
organization and
documentation
Read major work by chosen
author
12W3:1
Book Talk—
explaining to
class major
points of author’s
life and major
work
12W 4:1
Approach paper
12L 2:1
Creative
project—choice
12W1:1
12W2:1
Evaluate relevant sources and
Document using MLA style
Research skills
Bibliography
and citation
information
MLA format
Synthesize biographical
information to literary work
Present orally to class
12S 1:2
Speech
presentation
information
12S 2:1
12S 2:3
5
Biographical
timeline of author
12R 4:1
Research historical and
biographical information on
author and major work
Bibliography
and citations
12R 3:1