Modern World Literature is taught in conjunction with Modern World History; students need to take both classes.

Class is for ninth and tenth grade students. We start with a review of Ancient Greek culture focusing on Greece as the first democracy.

We read Lysistrata by Aristophanes and The Bacchae by Euripides.

We then jump up in time to the latter part of the twentieth century, hence the name Modern World Literature.

We simultaneously read novels, plays, and short stories set in the countries that the Modern World HIstory class studies. The authors are usually from the countries being studied.

We read Latin American Short Stories covering the great authors of Latin America and the influence they have had on world literature including magical realism and changing of perspectives. These stories are set in various countries in South America and Central America. Next we read either The Old Gringo by Fuentes or Rain of Gold by V Villaseñor; both are set in Mexico during the revolution for independence.

Next we shift to Africa and read the coming of age book by Mark Mathebane: Kafir Boy.Kafir Boy is set in South Africa during apartheid.

The Kite Runner by Hosseini is set in Afghanistan during the Taliban take-over.

Another coming of age book, this time by a female is Red Azalea set in China during the Cultural Revolution.

White Tiger by Aravind Adiga is a very provovative book written from the perspective of a cold blooded murderer in India in present time writing a letter to the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao.