Brit Lit Survey (British Literature)
$679.00
Brit Lit Survey | High School Literature
Full Year – High School Level Course
Meeting: 2026/2027 Session 1: Friday 10:15 am – 11:15 am CST | Session 2: Wednesday, 12:45 pm -1:45 pm CST
Instructor: Anna Knaub
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”I have in my reading analysis and writing skills-especially poetry. I would recommend this class to other families because of the continual challenge. … I thoroughly enjoyed Mrs. Knaub’s teaching style and curriculum, as well as the environment she created.” TNA Student
Brit Lit Survey
“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” -Winston Churchill
The everlasting spirit of the UK is truly a tale as old as time. This Brit Lit Survey peruses a number of the most famous authors from the mighty islands starting with the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, and moving forward chronologically through the dazzle of King Arthur, the humor of Chaucer, and wrapping up the Fall semester with the 3 sonnet styles, with a Shakespearian focus. In the Spring we will get a bit more modern, reading Regency and Industrial Revolution pieces from favorites like Austen, Swift, Golding, and a sampling of the Romance poets: Yeats, Keats, Tennyson, and more. Students will also have the opportunity to pick one of the 4 pre-selected, classic books, to read as a “choose your own.”
Topics Covered:
Historical Content
Heroes
Christian Themes in Pagan Works
Courtly Love/Chivalry
Characterization
Types of Tales & Themes
Sonnet Styles
Regency Culture
Importance of Setting- more than location
The Irish Problem
Romantic Era
Works:
Most works will be provided, however students will need copies of: Beowulf, Pride & Prejudice, and Lord of the Flies; as well as their novel of choice.
Fall-
Select Tales of Canterbury Tales (tales provided)
Select Tales of King Arthur (tales provided)
Sonnets (select sonnets provided)
Spring-
A Modest Proposal Jonathan Swift (provided)
Romantic Poetry (poems provided)
Lord of the Flies William Golding
Book of Choice
-Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
-Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
-The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Agatha Christie
Highlight Assignments:
Each semester students will be challenged with 4 core assignments: a formal essay, a formal presentation, a formal creative assignment, and a unit test. In between students will complete study guides which include character analysis, comprehension & analysis questions, vocabulary, and themes. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their weekly reading in class and flex their socratic skills and notetaking.
Breaking News: Students play town crier in their Anglo-Saxon village and they’ve got some big details and stories to share. They create a “Breaking News” presentation in the world of Beowulf.
Miller’s Memes: After reading “The Miller’s Tale” from The Canterbury Tales, students are challenged to create memes that reflect characterization, themes, and plot of the story, attaching explanations for each.
Stranded: In groups, students are challenged to plot out their own Lord of the Flies Island. They are provided with minimal supplies to start, and have nothing but the land and their wits. Who will come out on top?
Classes that pair well with Brit Lit Survey:
Psychology, Art, World History
SAMR Examples:
- Substitution: Students use word processing software instead of pen and paper for drafting and editing their essays. Students use various digital tools to create presentations.
- Augmentation: Online research databases and academic search engines enhance students' ability to find and evaluate sources.
- Modification: Collaborative online platforms allow for peer review and feedback processes that weren't possible with traditional methods.
- Redefinition: Students utilize digital tools to analyze their work for style, clarity, and coherence, receiving instant feedback that guides their revision process. They also create multimedia presentations of their research, incorporating interactive elements that go beyond traditional written reports.
Want to See How This Fits Into a Bigger Plan?
This class can stand alone — or be part of a larger pathway at True North Academy.
From Core 4 foundations to Associate and Dual Degree options, we help families build a clear, customized plan for middle and high school.
Not sure what’s right for your student?
🎯 Schedule a free advising session and let’s map it out together.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Additional information
| Choose Session | Session 1: Friday 10:15 am – 11:15 am CST, Session 2: Wednesday, 12:45 pm -1:45 pm CST |
|---|
7 reviews for Brit Lit Survey (British Literature)
You may also like…
A.B –
Mrs. Knaub’s Brit Lit class has been one of my favorite classes at True North. It has given me the opurtunity to grow, learn new skills, be proud of myself, and be part of a great and fun class. The lively discussions, creative projects, interesting books, and wonderful teacher all combine to make an amazing learning experience.
R.C –
Mrs. Knaub’s British Lit Survey class is for everyone, even if you don’t enjoy reading, giving presentations, or writing essays. The class material is thoughtfully and creatively made to make the learning experiences as fun as possible. All the help and resources you could need are provided, so you never have to dread coming into class; with the supportive learning environment, you’re sure to enjoy the books you read and remember them fondly for a long time!
S.S –
Mrs. Knaub is a fantastic teacher who wants her students to succeed, which makes us want to succeed. This year has been so fun, and I will definitely want to take more classes from her next year.
C.C –
Mrs. Knaub’s Brit Lit Survey class is a great way to expand your literary knowledge. In her class you will get to read literary classics like Beowulf, King Aruthur, Canterbury Tales, and Shakespeare. Even if you have already read these classics, you will still learn new things about them. In her class, you don’t have tons of boring assignments, you have creative assignments, and even some assignments where you get to work with a partner! This class is perfect for those who are struggling to appreciate British Literature, and those who love British Literature.
G.C –
Mrs. Knaub’s Brit-Lit Class is an absolutely amazing class! The course load is very manageable, and the assignments are both fun and challenging. In this semester we have covered four different units, three units on various stories and tales, and one on poems by Shakespeare. For each of these units there are projects ranging from an essay to a creative Coat-of Arms. One project I am most proud of is my family Coat-of -Arms and motto. We had to research what is was that makes a motto and make one for our own families, and we had to create a meaningful coat of arms to go with it.
Mrs. Knaub is an excellent teacher. She is very kind and funny and you are able to see she truly loves to teach British literature. Mrs. Knaub has created an amazing class that reads awesome literature, some of it you wouldn’t read until college, and then analyzes it with thoughtful and insightful questions and activities.
This class an amazing way to grow in your knowledge of other kinds of literature and learn to analyze and identity themes and morals in the stories. This class also helps you to grow in others ways as well. A skill that I, personally, have been learning and working on through this class in time management. Mrs. Knaub is pretty flexible with her deadlines, giving whole months to work on a project, but she is also strict and wants you hand in your things on time and perform your best.
I would absolutely recommend this class to other families next year! The class is super engaging and fun, as well as serious and analytical. Mrs. Knaub is super fun and also strict in the best possible way! This is probably one of my all time favourite classes that I’ve taken in my whole school career!
G.L –
This class absolutely took my taste in reading beyond my typical literature. Mrs. Knaub has an infectious joy while reading these books that made me love them too! Not only does this class provide incredible experience and learning, but Mrs. Knaub truly makes it interesting and fun. There’s a sense of community in this class, even only having an hour each week together. We get to talk and discuss literature, see each other’s projects, and give important feedback. I’ve never had that feeling in a live class before. It takes you beyond your comfort zone in the best way possible!
A.H –
I really enjoyed Brit Lit this year. I liked the fun projects like the Beowulf news report, the Coat of Arms and other homework and in class activities. Class was very interactive and the homework was very clear. There was a heavy amount of homework, but it was manageable because of the reasonable expectations. I appreciated that you knew exactly what the teacher was looking for in each assignment.