Catholic Schoolhouse Rhetoric Class Year 2
At-Home Literature Study
By Julie Keller
Quarter 1
Week 1
 Literary Devices and Figurative Language Flashcards: Begin creating a
series of flashcards based on the literary devices and/or figurative language
you have studied in class. These flashcards will serve you well throughout all
three years in your study of rhetoric. For this week you should create one for
allegory. Use index cards. Write the definition of allegory on the lined side.
On the blank side provide examples of other allegorical tales that you have
found by searching the library or the Internet. Make sure you are at least
familiar with the stories you choose so that you can intellectually discuss
why they are good examples of allegory.
 Additional Literature: Adaptations of Antigone were used during and after
World War II as an allegory of the Holocaust, particularly as a rallying cry for
the Resistance. Read or listen to The Terrible Things by Eve Bunting. Why is
this story an allegory? What is the message the story is trying to convey? Is
it relevant today? (For those desirous of further, more long term study of
allegory, read Edmund Spenser’s The Fairie Queen)
 Word Study: Define connotation and denotation. Create a list of words that
are synonyms but discuss how their connotation is different. Describe some
of the connotations of the vocabulary for Antigone so far. Why is
understanding connotation so important for writers?
 The Five Canons “Inventio”: This week began our study of the Five Canons
of Rhetoric. In Inventio, one prepares the argument, gathers the research,
and creates the thesis. As part of your homework this week, you have been
assigned to write a Proof. In preparation for that assignment, begin looking
at what makes a good thesis statement. The Purdue On-line Writing Lab
(OWL) is a great place to start. Read the document Tips and Examples for
Writing Thesis Statements
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/ first. Practice
writing thesis statements about novels that you have read before. Share and
analyze these with your family. Write your thesis statement for your
persuasive essay.
 Grammar: Review the 8 parts of speech. Using simple sentences, review the
diagramming placement of the 8 parts of speech. (Begin keeping a grammar
notebook.)
Week 2
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Literary Devices and Figurative Language Flashcards: Create cards for
fable and parable. Think about how they are similar and different to allegory.
Also create a card for apostrophe and provide examples.
 Additional Literature: Read a version of the myth of Prometheus. Use this
myth as a basis for further discussion of when an act of disobedience is
honorable when the cause of that disobedience is noble.
 Word Study: When we look at classical literature, we will notice that words
that are familiar to us are being used in unfamiliar ways. One reason for this
effect is pejoration. Define pejoration and explain it through the use of the
word “silly.” What are some other words that have been affected by
pejoration?
 The Five Canons “Inventio”: We are still examining the first of the Five
Canons. Using the thesis statement that you created last week for your
Persuasive essay, write your introductory paragraph. Also, try to obtain and
read A Rule Book for Arguments by Anthony Weston
 Grammar: You have learned that a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.
This week we will examine noun clauses. In your grammar notebook, define
noun clause and provide examples. Diagram those examples. Try writing
some sentences that have noun clauses.
Week 3
 Literary Devices and Figurative Language Flashcards: Create cards for
simile, metaphor, and personification. Find examples from Antigone, Enuma
Elish, or other works by the Greeks and Romans.
 Additional Literature: Read a version of the myth Jason and the Argonauts.
Pay careful attention to Medea. How is she similar to Antigone? Why are her
actions ultimately not noble? What moral lessons can be learned from her?
 Word Study: Define “amelioration.” Find words that have undergone this
linguistic shift. Discuss words today that may be changing in this fashion.
 The Five Canons “Dispositio”: This week’s discussion shifts to the
organization of the essay. An excellent way to understand how to organize
your own essay is to look at the structure of other well-written arguments.
Outline The Education of Women by Daniel Defoe
http://grammar.about.com/od/classicessays/a/educwomendefoe.htm or
Advice to Writers by Robert Benchley
http://grammar.about.com/od/classicessays/a/advicebenchley.htm (the
second being a tongue-in-cheek comparison/contrast essay). After reading
these (and others if you desire) practice outlining. The Purdue OWL has
many sources to help you with outlining and argument.
 Grammar: Review possessive nouns. Place them correctly using
diagramming.
Week 4
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Literary Devices and Figurative Language Flashcards: Create a card for
the literary device “oxymoron.” Are there any examples of oxymorons in
Antigone? Look back at our past selections and find some poetry that
provide examples of oxymoron.
Additional Literature: As we enter the last weeks of our study of Antigone,
you may wish to read other Greek plays that have a similar theme of
righteous defiance. Aeschylus’ “Prometheus Bound” is one example. Read
and discuss this or another at home. How are the theme’s similar to
Antigone? What are some conventions of Greek tragedy that you can discern
from reading in this genre?
Word Study: Define “narrowing” as it applies to linguistics. Find words that
have undergone this linguistic shift. Discuss words today that may be
changing in this fashion.
The Five Canons “Dispositio”: Continue to analyze the structure of the
body of persuasive arguments. After viewing Henry V’s St. Crispin’s Day
speech, read it. Outline the argument. In order to prepare for the persuasive
essay, create an outline of your essay. Include a strong thesis. Share with
your family.
Grammar: Review pronouns. Place them correctly using diagramming. In
your grammar notebook, define nominal phrase. Find its place in
diagramming. Write some sentences using nominal phrases.
Week 5
 Literary Devices and Figurative Language Flashcards: Create a card for
imagery. Find examples in Antigone and poetry.
 Additional Literature: Aristotle in his “Poetics,” dictated that the rules for
drama are in what he termed “the three unities.” These unities are “action,
time, and place.” Take some time and research the definitions of these
unities. How did the neoclassical world define or redefine them? If you
haven’t already read a second Greek tragedy, take this time to do so. How do
these unities apply to Antigone? Your second tragedy? How do these unities
apply today? Are they necessary for good drama?
 Word Study: Define “broadening.” Find words that have undergone this
linguistic shift. Discuss words today that may be changing in this fashion.
 The Five Canons “Dispositio” and “Elocutio”: Last week you created your
outline for your persuasive essay. This week create a rough draft of that
essay and get feedback. If you have a copy, read the chapter on
argumentative essays in A Rulebook for Arguments. Make sure your
argument is pointed and not merely a summary of Antigone. Keeping the
third canon of elocution in mind, analyze your word choice to make certain
those words are best suited for your argument. Is the connotation correct?
Do the words strike the correct emotional chord with the reader?
 Grammar: Review verbs and verb tenses. Define gerund. Find its place in
diagramming. Write some sentences using gerunds.
Week 6
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Literary Devices and Figurative Language Flashcards: Create a card for
metonymy. Find an example in Antigone. How is metonymy used in
everyday speech currently?
Additional Literature: In preparation for the next quarter, it would be wise
to read a version of the myth of Achilles. Additionally, reading many Greek
myths prior to the second quarter would be beneficial, especially if this is
your first time studying Greek mythology. An excellent and quick read that is
good for all ages is D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths. Without some
understanding of Greek mythology, many of the literary allusions in The Illiad
will be missed.
Word Study: Define “derivation.” Why is this term important for linguistic
study?
The Five Canons “Dispositio” and “Elocutio”: As per your quarter final
project, write your persuasive essay. Take time to proofread your final draft.
Grammar: Review the three types of verbs. In your grammar notebook,
define an infinitive phrase. Write some sentences using infinitive phrases.
Diagram them correctly.