High School British Literature Curriculum: Victorian – Modern Eras

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image of students raising scrolls and tossing graducation caps with text overlay: Highschool British Literature Curriculum for the Victorian & Modern eras from www.captivatingcompass.com

High School British Literature Curriculum Lesson Plans For Homeschooling Victorian & Modern Lit.

Introduction to High School British Literature Victorian – Modern Eras

From the earliest written work of British literature to the literary greats of the twentieth century, get ready to explore high school British literature of the Victorian through Modern eras. Learn about the earliest poets, English short stories, and the Victorian periods most fascinating authors.  In previous posts, you’ll also take a stroll through Old English and Renaissance authors.  For now, let’s dive into the high school British literature curriculum for the Victorian through Modern eras..

Learn about the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval eras of high school British literature curriculum for high school. You will also want to explore the high school British Literature curriculum for the Renaissance & Georgian eras.

As an introduction to studying British literature and composition, a high schooler will want to have undertaken the study of grammar and the completion of a language arts curriculum to ensure they are well prepared to study these classics. While studying American literature first may be helpful,  it is not generally required for well-read high schoolers. Creative writing and short story study are helpful also but again, are not a required pre-requisite since there will be plenty of opportunity to explore these areas whilst learning about British Literature.

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The Importance Of British Literature In High School

Understanding the importance of British literature in high school can be a hard sell to many homeschooled high school students, no matter which era studied.  By focusing on creativity and using an exciting lesson plan with answer keys you will e able to engage students in the history and literature of the Victorian through Modern eras. Add thoughtful dialogue and discussion for opportunities to gain incredible insight into how history shapes our future. 

Like many homeschool families with high school students, you may share these curriculum choice goals:

  • Establishing a love of literature that will last through adulthood
  • The ability to allow quality classic literature to produce a broader worldview and love of people,
  • Allow the study of British Literature to become a building block in understanding society through the ages.

The Major Authors And Works Of British Literature

The list of major authors and the number of quality literature selections for high school British Literature in the Victorian through Modern eras in each section below is not exhaustive. So keep in mind that you may find your student loves a particular writer, genre, or era. If they wish to camp there and take it all in slowly – let them. This is ok.  Studying Victorian and modern British literature, history, and science in-depth at the same time allows the opportunity to weave a beautiful tapestry of historical life. This provides a rich understanding that will be useful throughout the education years as well as in life-long learning opportunities.

The Victorian & Edwardian eras (1837-1910)

High schoolers should include a study of Victorian poems along with studying the Victorian period’s greatest authors.  Including the following will provide opportunities for critical thinking and preparation for any final exam in British Literature at the high school level.

High School British Literature Resources for the Victorian & Edwardian eras

Companion Studies For Your High School British Literature Curriculum

The 20th century

British literature of the twentieth century is overflowing with authors that wanted to sound the alarm of modernization and control.  High schoolers will be challenged to thoughtfully approach the meaning and symbolism presented by these modern-era authors.  With some of the mature themes in British dystopian literature, parents are encouraged to engage in open dialogue with their teenagers to help them understand the various themes they will encounter whiles studying several of the books below.

But all is not lost!  Authors such as C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkein save the day as they provide magical outlets of creativity that will captivate your teen reader and prove that good always triumphs over evil.

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C.S. Lewis – One of The Great Intellectual Giants of The 20th Century

“Lewis is now known as one of the great intellectual giants of the twentieth century. The personal life of C. S. Lewis is one marked by great pain: the death of his mother as a child, his experiences at school, and the First World War. He became a carer for his younger brother, whose life was marred by alcoholism. And sadly, it was not until later in life that he found love in marriage. Lewis married an American, Joy Davidson. Tragically she died three years after the marriage from bone cancer. Lewis became step-father to her two sons, and raised them as his own.

In his Christian faith, Lewis found the only answer to the pain of this sin-marred world. He found a way to communicate this hope to the world, and transcended the divide between church and the secular world; academia and the popular. As a result, his work has touched millions and transform the lives of countless souls….” Read more about C.S. Lewis’s Best Books for Homeschoolers by Emma Cummings.

High School British Literature Resources for the 20th Century

High School British Literature Curriculum: Semester & Full-Year Online Courses

Music in Our Homeschool has a variety of online British literature courses (in addition to their amazing music courses). You’ll want to check out the following:

Literary Adventures for Kids offers 10 British literature courses (and so much more!) in their Society of Literary Adventurers. These 10 courses alone provide a rich high school British literature curriculum – Especially when coupled with the Let’s Study Dickens & Let’s Study Jane Austen, which bring historical context to the literary works and exciting information about these famous writers.

For modern British literature:

Homeschool Planet has 24 different full-year curriculum lesson plan options. You can search for ‘British Literature‘ to see them all. Here are several of their most popular.

If you are not familiar with Homeschool planet, you can see what they are all about with your FREE 30-day trial. We’ve been using Homeschool planet for a while now. It will revolutionize how you plan your home, work, school, travel, and life.

Compass Classroom’s British & World Literature online course lectures are excellent for a full year of high school literature.

Compass Classroom is another one of our favorites. Their Premium Membership will make independent learning affordable for your family. Give it a try with your first 2 weeks free!

Companion Studies For Your High School British Literature Curriculum

adding British Literature to your high school curriculum lineup

A complete curriculum of British literature can include a lesson plan for each book studied or you may find that a course using selected excerpts will work well for your homeschooler. Either way, adding British Literature to your high school curriculum lineup is vital to a well-rounded education that will allow you and your family to continue to use the world as your classroom by inspiring you to explore in person or virtually the places you enjoy during your studies. The bountiful, yet not exhaustive homeschool resources in this post focus on the Victorian and Modern eras and will delight your high school student with a thought-provoking curriculum.

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