It is the last day of a heat-blasted June, which is both sad and exciting. The summer is just ramping up and before you know it, July will be over and the pall of autumn will be on its way as August sinks sadly into the vibrant hues of the Midwest.
With that said, we come to the end of another informative week on the blog and with that comes the ending of another classic book study. But wait! Next week we begin reading a new, vibrant book, escaping back into Medieval battles and bravery with Howard Pyle’s awesome The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883).
It is another turn-of-the-century novel (my favorite era, apparently), and features a host of classic characters from Robin Hood to Little John–and even the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Many traditional stories and trappings of Robin Hood lore come from this classic novel, so get ready to follow along!
Before we get there, however, let’s take a look at what we learned over the last week, and what we stand to learn next week.
Last Week
We began last week by reading the last chapters of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, chapters 22-34. In it, our journey came to an end and Jim Hawkins learned a great deal about himself and about those around him.
We then examined conflict in stories and how it can help enrich our characters; afterward, , we analyzed the role of stockades in history and literature, and followed that up on Thursday by reading about pirates on the Great Lakes here in Michigan.
On Friday, we investigated Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander, a novel about naval warfare during the Napoleonic era, and then finished the week by reading about the Gilded Age’s influence on Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
Next Week
Looking ahead, there’s much to read and study!
Monday: The Reading of Robin Hood, Chapters 1-5
Tuesday: Background Knowledge, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
Wednesday: Writing Craft, Folkloric Language
Thursday: Literary Analysis: Themes of Justice and Heroism
Friday: Book List, Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
Saturday: Poetry: “Robin Hood and the Monk”
Sunday: Reflections
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