Dear 2004-2005 Pre-AP English I Students and Parents

It is with great pleasure that I present to you the summer reading requirements for students enrolled in Pre-AP English I for the 2004-2005 school year. I have chosen a selection of stories from Edith Hamilton’s Mythology (ISBN 0446607258). I am making arrangements with the Border’s bookstore on Lovers Lane to order copies of the book. The price is $7.50. Each student should obtain his or her own copy of the book. The second required reading is an Internet based: the Book of Genesis, Chap. 1-11. A non-denominational translation of this can be found at http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/rsv.browse.html, though certainly you may use another version if you already possess one.

The selections I have chosen are summaries of basic classical myths, including those of the creation of the world. Many works of literature and art for the past two millennia have alluded to these ancient tales and adventures. The aim of this summer’s reading is to give the student a basis of classical knowledge that will help them recognize allusions in English literature. I have made an effort to choose the stories that are interesting and that will make (I hope) enjoyable summer reading. I will be checking in at Woodrow over the summer if you need to contact me. Please leave a message at 972-502-4400, or send email to han.solo@prodigy.net.

The selected readings are:

From Mythology	From Genesis
Introduction to Classical Mythology	Ch.1: Creation of the Universe
Chapter 1: The Gods	Ch.2: Creation of Man and Woman
Chapter 3: How the World and Mankind Were Created	Ch.3: The Serpent
Chapter 4: The Earliest Heroes	Ch.4: Cain and Abel
Chapter 7: The Quest for the Golden Fleece	Ch.5: History
Chapter 8: Four Great Adventures	Ch.6: Noah’s Ark
Chapter 9: Perseus	Ch.7: The Flood
Chapter 10: Theseus	Ch.8: The Flood continued
Chapter 11: Hercules	Ch.9: History
Chapter 13: The Trojan War	Ch.10: History
Chapter 14: The Fall of Troy	Ch.11: Intro to Abraham and Sarah
Chapter 15: The Adventures of Odysseus
Chapter 21: Brief Myths Arranged Alphabetically

I recommend that the chapters be read in order as a series of short stories; the myths are episodic in nature and they do build on each other. I have made a form on the back of this letter that may help students keep track of what they are reading. While I will not grade the notes that students keep on the stories, they will find their notes invaluable study tools for the test. As with all tests in my class, there will be no re-tests on the summer reading.

Enjoy the reading. Have a good summer, and I look forward to seeing you next year.

Sincerely,

Patrick McGhee

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