Honors Classical Literature and Composition Summer Reading Letter
27 April, 2021
Dear Incoming 9th Grade Students,
Greetings! The high school English department is truly excited to kick off the 2021-2022 school year with you! We hope that you have had a great close to this last school year and that you truly enjoy your upcoming vacation. In high school this also means that it’s time to start looking ahead to the next year and exciting upcoming content. In some classes, include English, there is summer reading to help establish context and background for the work we will do in August.
To that end, it is required that all students read the following texts before the first day of class for English:
• Mythology by Edith Hamilton, introduction and chapters 1, 2, and 3 only. (Provided.) • The Bible - Genesis, chapters 1-4, 6-9, 11-13, and 15-19 (You will need to acquire a copy for the summer. Any translation is acceptable, though the New American Standard is preferred if possible for consistency as that version will be distributed in August).
These summer readings will be discussed heavily in the first few days of school, followed by an assessment; however, do not worry if you struggle with some of the material as your teacher will help guide our understanding in August.
What is included in this packet:
With this letter, you should receive a couple other documents.
• The first is the text of the introduction and first three chapters of Mythology. This is yours to keep. You may mark on it as desired, and you are expected to bring it to school on the first day. If you received a digital copy, this is a separate file. • The second is a study guide. While it is not required that you fill this out over the summer, it is highly recommended; doing so will save you time in the first days of school as it will be assigned then, and filling out the study guide will enhance your reading of the texts. If you received a digital copy, this is in the later pages of this file.
Why are we reading The Bible?
It surprises many families that The Bible is taught as part of the Vanguard English curriculum. There is a very good reason for doing so. At our high school, you will engage in an in-depth study in the literature, culture, and history of Western Civilization. The two major pillars of the Great Conversation of Western Civilization are the Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian traditions. Beginning with texts that lay out the foundation stories of these two traditions is critical to understanding later works. Mythology allows us to address the first, and The Bible allows us to address the second.
We are of course very aware of the sensitivities around teaching The Bible as a text. To be clear, we treat it as a work of literature. We study characters, events, themes, and motifs, while neither promoting nor discouraging belief in the religions based upon its stories. To that end, we will ultimately be reading portions of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, and the Gospels.
You may also notice that we sometimes refer to the early stories of the Old Testament as the “biblical mythology.” This terminology is not intended to reflect in any way on the accuracy of these stories, but rather upon their foundational function within the Judeo-Christian tradition, as you will see in the study guide.
Thank you for all of your hard work this past year, and congratulations on making it to high school! We look forward to seeing you in the fall. If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to use the contact below.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Fenton
English Department Chair
Name:______
Teacher: ______
Honors Classical Literature and Composition
Date:______
Summer Reading Study Guide
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
Introduction:
1. Provide your own definition of Mythology. What do you think is the difference between Mythology and History? Between Mythology and Religion?
2. Describe what Edith Hamilton claims is the purpose of mythology.
3. How were the Greek gods different from the gods that came before them?
Chapter One
Provide the following information for each of the Twelve Olympians:
1. Zeus - god of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
2. Poseidon – god of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
3. Hades – god of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
4. Hera- goddess of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
5. Ares – god of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
6. Athena – goddess of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
7. Apollo – god of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
8. Aphrodite – goddess of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
9. Hermes – god of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
10. Artemis – goddess of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
11. Hephaestus – god of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
12. Hestia – goddess of ______Basic information (background, traits, description):
Chapter Two
1. In about 5 sentences, summarize the story of Demeter. How did the Greeks explain the cycle of the seasons?
2. In about 5 sentences, summarize the story of Dionysus. Why is Dionysus revered like no other god? Be specific.
Chapter Three
1. What is the relationship between Night, Chaos, Love, Light, Day, Heaven, Earth, and Erebus?
2. What five types of beings were born from Heaven and Earth?
3. Discuss the relationship between Cronus and Zeus.
4. Name and describe each metal race, according to Greek mythology.
5. Who was the first woman and what does her introduction to the world do to mankind?
6. How did Prometheus earn Zeus’ hatred and what was his punishment?
The Bible - Genesis Chapters 1-4, 6-9, 11-13,15-19, 21-22
Chapter 1 – List the days of creation and what is created on each day.
Chapter 2 – In detail, describe how man and woman come into existence.
Chapter 3 – What specific instruction does God give Adam and Eve, and how does the serpent get them to break it?
Chapter 4 – Who commits the first murder, and what is his motivation?
Chapter 6 – How does God respond to the increasing corruption of mankind?
Chapter 7 – Who escapes the catastrophe of this chapter, and how?
Chapter 8 – Write down the promise God makes to mankind in this chapter.
Chapter 9 – Who receives a curse in this chapter, and why?
Chapter 11 – How does this chapter explain the origin of human languages?
Chapter 12 – What does God instruct Abram to do, and what does God promise Abram in return for his obedience?
Chapter 13 – What is the conflict of this chapter, and how is it resolved?
Chapter 15 – What two means does God use to renew his promise in this chapter?
Chapter 16 – How does Abram try to force the promise to happen right away, and what is the consequence?
Chapter 17 – Identify the name changes in this chapter and explain the significance of these changes.
Chapter 18 – How does Abraham respond to the announcement about Sodom and Gomorrah?
Chapter 19 – What happens to Lot’s wife, and why?
Synthesizing Mythology and The Bible
1. How do these two works fulfill the purpose of mythology as defined by Edith Hamilton?
2. Discuss the similarities and differences between the Greek and Biblical creation myths.
3. Compare the view of man and woman presented in Greek and Biblical myths. What does each suggest about human nature?