Dark Ages literature

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • Wings2fly
    Participant

    In planning for next year, I am looking mostly at the SCM guide and Beautiful Feet.  It seems that most of the literature is from 1200 AD and up.  In the SCM guide, only the first 19 lessons cover from the years 394 to 982.  Is this time period so “dark” that we leave a 600 year gap in our history studies?  I would like to have a better understanding of this time period for myself too.  Could someone please give me a short summary?  For our history next year, I would like to add some age-appropriate literature to cover this time period.  Ages 8 – 12.  Any suggestions?

    So far I have found:

    a non-fiction by Caselli called The Roman Empire and the Dark Ages

    Son of Charlemagne for the year 781 AD

    Karen
    Participant

    I think King Arthur was during the dark ages.

    I don’t have my All Through the Ages book handy, so I can’t look it up right now.  You might check out Guest Hollow’s website.  She has history resources for each time period listed.

    RobinP
    Participant

    Barbarians/Atilla the Hun

    Beowulf

    Dawn Wind and Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff are good titles for middle thru high school

    yes, King Arthur

    Celts/Anglo-Saxons

    vandals

    Church history – Justinian/monasteries/Pope Gregory/Boniface

    Islam

    Charlemagne/Roland – Charlemagne’s knight (Song of Roland)

    feudalism

    Early stages of Knights

    Vikings

    Alfred the Great

    Macbeth

    Little Duke by Charlotte Yonge

    Leif Erickson

    Isaac Asimov has a good book called Dark Ages for high schoolers or parents to use as a spine.

    Just a few topics and titles.  Not a silent period at all.  ?  Gotta go but can give specific titles later if needed.

    RobinP
    Participant

    Books…

    Atilla – The White Stag by Seredy

    Beowulf – a good rebelling by Serrallier

    the Sutcliff books mentioned above

    King Arthur – there are many

    The Fall of Constantinople by Kielty

    The Iron Charm by Williamson

    Augustine Came to Kent by Willard

    the one you listed of Charlemagne is good

    Viking Adventure by Bulla or Black Fox of Lorne by de Angeli

    Wings2fly
    Participant

    Thank you, Robin.  I am looking into these.  I can’t figure out why a Newbery honor book, Black Fox of Lorne, would be oop!  I have King Arthur listed, but did not realize the time period.

    Also by Rosemary Sutcliff is The Shining Company set in 600 AD.  SCM has it listed for grades 7 – 9.  I wonder if this would be okay for my 6th grader to read?  I see great reviews on Amazon…except one star from an 11 yo boy and another from a homeschool student.  So that makes me think it may be better for an older student.  Thoughts?

    And Lantern Bearers is listed for grades 10 – 12.  So I thought that may be too much for a 6th grader too?

    RobinP
    Participant

    Michelle Miller lists Lantern Bearers for grades 7-12.  Sutcliff is an excellent author.  Some don’t like that her books can sometimes be dark but that has more to do with the time period she writes about, I think.  It has been a long time since I read Shining Company.  I don’t remember much, I’m afraid.  I never understood why Black Fox of Lorne was OOP either.  Excellent. It is longer and Viking Adventure is another don’t miss book so don’t worry if you can’t find it.

    Wings2fly
    Participant

    I am looking into Truthquest again…and thinking it may be a good fit for us.  I am always tweaking other guides and really making my own plan anyway.  I love how the books are listed like a timeline and include various grades.  Do you read aloud all of the commentaries?  How long does that usually take?

    RobinP
    Participant

    I read many of the commentaries or sometimes just paraphrase.  Sometimes the commentaries are our whole history day because they are longer but important in setting the stage for Big 2 Beliefs to look out for which is a crucial part of studying history, IMO.  Most of the time, it’s just a very few minutes spent and we get on with the books.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • The topic ‘Dark Ages literature’ is closed to new replies.