WORLD LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
SUMMER READING LIST
The purpose of summer reading is to sustain the powers of the imagination and to explore worlds of characters, settings, plots, archetypes and ideas we can only visit through literature. These books are available from your local library or bookstore.
Although video versions are enjoyable, they may differ greatly from the written word; rely on the works themselves. There is, however, a movie component to your summer reading assignments. You are required to read one book and view one movie from the lists below. Be advised some books may contain somewhat explicit language, sexual references, or mature subject matter. If you have any questions, please contact the English Department Chair, Marybeth Dial on the Sprayberry website or at .
Assigned texts are integral to our World Lit.curriculum. We will have class discussions and additional assignments associated with these books when you return to school.
I. Materials for study: Choose one from each category
Novels (Choose One)
***Divergent by Veronica Roth (L700)
Rationale: Set in dystopian Chicago, Beatrice Prior is a sixteen year old girl who must soon choose a faction of society
to which she must devote the rest of her life. The decision comes down to staying with her family or staying true to
herself. This text is studied to provide a continuation of the understanding of the hero’s journey, which was studied in
Ninth Literature, as well as to lay the foundation for studying heroes across cultures.
***Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by MarjaneSatrapi (GN380L)
Rationale:Satrapi's autobiography, which is in a graphic novel format, takes place during the Islamic Revolution.
Through her stories of growing up in Iran during this time of upheaval examines such issues of feminism and gender
roles, as well as Post-Colonialism and identity, which will be topics of study throughout the course. Satrapi will also
be analyzed as an unlikely hero who finds her own identity thanks to the help of supportive parents and family.
Film (Choose One). You must get approval from your parents for The Matrix.
Star Wars IV: A New Hope (George Lucas, 1977)
The Matrix (The Wachowski Brothers, 1999) *Rated ‘R’
The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939)
Avatar (James Cameron, 2009)
The Mask of Zorro (Martin Campbell, 1998)
Captain America (Joe Johnston, 2011)
Discussion Questions:Each answer should be a paragraph long.These will be used for discussion during the first few weeks of class.
The word “hero” is one that has been used so often that it almost seems to have lost its meaning. Or perhaps the issue is that we each have such different personal views on what makes a hero that it is impossible to describe the word with a single definition.
All of the novels and films listed above deal with the idea of the hero’s journey. Therefore, for this part of the assignment, answer the questions below based on the two works from the list that you chose to engage with. Be sure to refer to both works in each question. Be as specific and detailed in your answers as possible; as always, the more support
you use from the texts and films themselves, the stronger your answers will be.
1. In what ways were your heroes similar before their heroic journeys began?
2. How were your heroes “chosen” to be heroes?
3. In what ways were their heroic journeys similar?
4. How do your heroes confront and ultimately defeat the evil or dark forces that they face?
5. Once the heroes’ journeys are complete, what positive impact do those journeys have on society at large?