Ninth Grade Literature & Composition Honors Summer Reading

The Ninth Grade Literature & Composition Honors’ Summer Reading Assignment will serve as an enjoyable introduction to the course work that students will experience in their literature classes. Completion of the tasks will be essential to success during the opening weeks of school, as the material will inform future assignments and lessons.

“My hope is that those who do not know the classics will gain in this way not only a knowledge of the myths, but some little idea of what the writers were like who told them—who have been proved by two thousand years and more, to be immortal.” Edith Hamilton, Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes.

Students will begin the Ninth Grade Literature & Composition Honors curriculum with an exploration of ancient Greek mythology and culture. Students will be expected to understand these texts in terms of their societal significance, and not as isolated fanciful stories. We will open the year with Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey; however, in order for students to fully comprehend the aforementioned epics, they must be familiar with the supporting myths, the backstories.

Assignment:

Obtain: Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

Read and annotatethe following sections:

PART ONE: The Gods, the Creation, and the Earliest Heroes

  1. The Titans and the Twelve Great Olympians The Lesser Gods of Olympus The Gods of the Waters The Underworld The Lesser Gods of Earth The Roman Gods
  2. The Two Great Gods of Earth Demeter Dionysus or Bachus
  3. How the World and Mankind Were Created
  4. The Earliest Heroes

Prometheus and Io Flower Myths: Narcissus, Hyacinth and Adonis

PART THREE: The Great Heroes Before the Trojan War

Perseus

Once you have read the above, choose two myths (not listed) and annotate.

Annotation Tips:

When reading, please consider the following:

  • Who are the protagonists and antagonists of the story?
  • What are some details that help reveal their character traits?
  • What is the setting?
  • What is the purpose of the story?
  • Why do you think this story was told?
  • What does each story show about cultural priorities/ morals? How?
  • What are the lessons to be learned from the story?

The assigned and chosen myths should be fully read and annotated by August 8th. Annotations will be reviewed and used as a grade for your first formative in this class. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Ms. Pope at