World Literature and Composition: A Critical Consideration of Communism
High school world literature course selections (paid subscriber printable plans)
Literature allows us to experience a thousand different lives. Necessity requires that some of those lives make us uncomfortable and cause us to think deeply about our convictions. High school is a wonderful time to work through some of the “ugly books” (books that have valuable but difficult content and provoke deep thought) with our children.
This is the World Literature and Composition course I’m teaching this year in the Beautiful Life Community. The teens always encourage me with their insights and eagerness to discuss ideas. Our children are so very capable.
I hope that you can use this course outline as at least a starting point to explore the very real and relevant issues with marxist ideology that our children are encountering in spades in the world right now. To arm their minds against doctrine of demons is paramount.
A Booklist for Understanding Where We Are
To understand where one is in the timeline of history, it is necessary to look back. Because history moves in cycles.
For our paid subscriber friends, the full course plans by week with additional discussion ideas are at the end of this post. Thanks so much for being part of our homeschool community!
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World Literature and Composition: Critical Consideration of Communism
Course Overview:
This one-year course (32 weeks) explores the theme of communism through literature, historical accounts, and Christian worldview. Students will read classic works, modern historical narratives and accounts, and will be critically analyzing the real-world impacts of marxist ideology and communism. The goal is to develop critical thinking and writing skills, enhance the ability to connect literature with historical and political realities as well as discerning worldviews, and produce a final project that demonstrates an understanding of communism.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will:
Understand key theoretical ideas surrounding communism
Analyze the human experience in systems influenced by communist ideals
Develop research and writing skills to support well-reasoned arguments about political ideologies
Complete a final project demonstrating critical thought on communism and a basic mastery of research and essay writing
Final Project: Critical Analysis of Communism in Theory and Practice
Students will choose a topic related to the themes explored throughout the year (e.g., the failure of communism in specific countries, the impact of communism on personal freedoms, a comparative study of communism vs. federalism). Using a combination of the books, videos, and articles from the course and additional resources, students will develop an in-depth research paper (~5 pages, plus works cited page) and
a creative presentation (such as a documentary-style video, visual artwork, or multimedia project) that demonstrates their critical understanding of communism and
Students will write a 1-2 page reflection on what they have learned, quotes that impacted them, and how they view communism’s impact on the modern world.
How to use this course:
Week one begins the discussion of Utopia, so you may need to include an additional introductory week for in-person classes. For online classes, an introductory video or email explanation and distribution of the course packet is appropriate.
The job of the instructor is to facilitate socratic discussions- this means you must also be reading the materials ahead of the class and asking questions to encourage critical thinking.
To help your student(s) with discussion, encourage them to annotate their books or keep a notebook of notes and questions as they read.
If you are using this course with a single student it is a good idea to recruit friends or family for at least one paper’s presentation so your student gets experience in presenting work to an audience.
If you will be grading the writing projects yourself, you will need to provide your own rubric to the student(s). This course was originally written for group discussions and individual student parental grading but can easily be used in a class where the teacher is grading.
There is a short list of potential substitution/additional titles if needed.
To make this an honors course, the writing and research assignments will need to be expanded and a few titles may need to be changed out/added in.
Additional helpful resources:
PragerU Tito’s Trouble with Communism
My Life as a Christian Under a Communist Regime
Men Have Forgotten God (1983 speech by Solzhenitsyn)
**Overview of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Alternative titles for substitution if needed, * indicates for honors course:
The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin
*1984 by George Orwell
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
*Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Man of Steel: Joseph Stalin by Jules Archer
*The Naked Communist by Skousen (for 12th grade honors)
World Literature and Composition: Critical Consideration of Communism Resource List
The Pilgrims Tried Socialism and it Failed
Write a 1 page comparative essay between More’s “Utopia” and the Communist Manifesto. How do both texts envision the perfect society, and what are their respective methods to achieve it?
An Introduction to the Iron Curtain with Linda Hobar
Create a character analysis of Napoleon, the pig. How does he embody the corrupting influence of power in a totalitarian regime?
How Should We Then Live episode 9
The definition of worldview is an important discussion for our students and is a good starting point for the discussion of these two videos.
How Should We Then Live episode 10
Write a 1 page reflection on the contrast between Marx’s theoretical vision and the outcomes of communist groups/regimes in practice and how changing worldviews (from primarily Christian to primarily secular) have affected culture in the West.
The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez
Write a 1-2 page comparative narrative essay comparing and contrasting the experiences of the protagonists in both books, focusing on their coming-of-age under oppressive systems.
God’s Smuggler (young reader’s edition) by Brother Andrew
Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
The Pastor’s Wife by Sabina Wurmbrand
Write a 1-2 page research paper on the role of underground resistance movements in communist/totalitarian regimes, citing examples from history.
Prisoner’s of Geography (illustrated young readers edition)
Research and present a 3 to 5-minute oral presentation (you may include visual aids) on one country’s experience with communism, referencing geographical factors and their effects on the success or failure of the regime.
Write a short opinion essay (1 page) on why you think that the Holodomor, which killed millions, and The Great Leap Forward and its famine, which killed at least 15 million, are not as well known as other genocides like the Holocaust.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
In a 2-3 page essay, analyze the importance of individual identity and resilience in a collectivist society, using specific examples from the books read this year.
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Write a 2-page paper analyzing the theme of betrayal and loyalty in the book, focusing on the tension between the protagonist’s moral compass and the pressure of living under a totalitarian regime.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
This is a wonderful picture book about growing up behind the Iron Curtain and gives an artist’s perspective. The afterword is excellent.
Final Project presentations
