Classical Writing Literature Aesop & Homer

Aesop and Homer Literature Selections

For Aesop students (3rd-4th grade) and for Homer students (5th-6th grade) all the models and materials are included in the workbooks. There is no assigned reading for Aesop and Homer. We do however encourage you and your students to read the books listed below, either alone or aloud. Many of these books are the source for models in Aesop and Homer. Also, continue to refer to Primer Literature Selections to help you formulate reading lists for your students.

Although many of these books are available online, we heartily recommend that you add them to your personal library. Click on the images to order these books through our Amazon bookstore.

Supplemental Books for Aesop and Homer

Fables and Fairy Tales

Any collection of Aesop’s Fables would work, but we love Milo Winter's illustrations in this classic version. Access the online version here.

Fairy tales are a necessary part of every child’s education. The best-known and loved fairy tales are from the Grimm brothers and from Hans Christian Andersen. Both Andersen’s and Grimm’s fairy tales are available online at Project Gutenberg.

Bible

Greek and Roman Mythology

A student in 11th grade cannot read Milton or Dante if he is not familiar with the Greek (and also Norse) deities. That familiarity starts in grade school. These delightful tales are tastefully told in children’s editions that will help your students keep tabs of which character did and said what. Many of these are available online at the Baldwin Project. We especially recommend the D’Aulaire’s version of the Greek myths – a great read aloud with exquisite pictures. The stories are told at a child’s level, explaining carefully the origin of the world according to the Greeks.

Familiarity with the epics of Homer and Virgil is a must for all classical students. Well-written children’s versions will provide students with good understanding when they encounter the original in high school. The Iliad is the tale of the great war between Greece and Troy occasioned by the abduction of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, from her husband's kingdom by Paris, prince of Troy. The Odyssey tells of Odysseus’ ten year journey to get back to his home in Ithaca, and the many adventures that he had on the way. The Aeneid is the tale of how Aeneas left the burning city of Troy and founded the dynasty in Italy that eventually gave rise to the city of Rome. The poet Virgil penned this tale for Caesar Augustus around the time of Christ. We like Church’s and Colum’s versions, but there are many other wonderful versions. Church’s books are available online at the Baldwin Project.

Tales from Northern Europe

Our culture and language partially hails from the unique and hardy culture that developed in Scandinavia in the early Middle Ages. Familiarity with the roles and deeds of Odin, Thor, Loki, and Balder is part of a well-rounded classical education. The Book of Trolls offers a unique view of Norse humor, the Norse sense of poetic justice, and the Norse way of dealing with stupidity when it is coupled with strength.

Narrative History

History storybooks are often more engaging than typical history textbooks. Here are a few the back-in-print books we have enjoyed. Also, check the Baldwin Project.

Shakespeare

William Shakespeare's mastery of the English language coupled with his keen insight into human nature have made his works endure for almost 500 years. Every student should be familiar with Shakespeare's plays. The two books above are also available online at the Baldwin Project.

Supplemental Literature for Aesop and Homer

Primer: Resources and Literature

Diogenes: Assigned and Supplemental Reading

Herodotus: Assigned and Supplemental Reading

Plutarch: Assigned and Supplemental Reading

Demosthenes: Assigned and Supplemental Reading

Poetry: Assigned and Supplemental Reading