Classical Writing Literature Plutarch

Plutarch Literature Selections

For all of our upper level courses, the assigned literature provides background and content for the student's analysis and imitation work, and is highly recommended. Most of the books assigned are available online (links provided below).

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Assigned Literature for Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives, Volume I
Plutarch's Lives, Volume II

Plutarch's “Lives” are encomia of famous persons who shaped the histories of Greece and Rome. We recommend that the student chooses eight to ten Greek lives and eight to ten Roman lives if he needs to limit his reading. Likewise, in the second half of this book, we will assign specific parallel lives [where Plutarch compares two persons from different eras of history to each other]. The paper version of the book comes in two volumes, and we recommend reading selections from both. Available online.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." So begins this delightful commentary on nineteenth century British manners and customs, particularly as regards matrimony. Austen's characters provide us with literary praise, blame, and comparison exercises. Available online.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is classic American invective. When Harriet Beecher Stowe met President Lincoln, he reportedly said, "So youa re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war."

Available online.

Silas Marner by George Eliot
One of many themes in Silas Marner is that the love of others is more fulfilling than the love of money. Silas Marner is assigned reading. Available online.

Cicero's Letters
Cicero is the master of Latin Prose, and in particular famous for his letter writing. Reading a broad selection of his letters is required reading for Classical Writing–Plutarch. We will revisit these letters again in Classical Writing–Demosthenes. Available online.

Supplemental Literature for Plutarch

Primer: Resources and Literature

Aesop & Homer: Assigned and Supplemental Reading

Diogenes: Assigned and Supplemental Reading

Herodotus: Assigned and Supplemental Reading

Demosthenes: Assigned and Supplemental Reading

Poetry: Assigned and Supplemental Reading