Wit and Wisdom: Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature

Class description:

“In my mind’s eye. -  Knock, knock. Who’s there? - Vanish into thin air. - Good riddance.”  

Did you know all those common, everyday phrases were coined by Shakespeare?  Despite his works being written over 400 years ago, there is a reason Shakespeare remains every bit as popular today. His wit and wisdom remain foundational to western civilization, and English speakers worldwide quote his sayings in their everyday speech, often without even realizing it.     

This high school level class will examine the dramatic works of Shakespeare, as well as other Renaissance literature. We will read several of Shakespeare’s plays, both comedy and tragedy, as well as some of his sonnets. We will also read The Servant of Two Masters, a comedy by Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni, to tie-in with the play being performed by the Sightline Performance class, so students enrolled in the drama class will benefit from taking this literature class as we dive deeper into the plot, characters, and themes of the play.   

Homework: Students will be assigned weekly reading and should come prepared to participate in reading scenes aloud and class discussion. Several essays on the works we study will be assigned throughout the year, as well as short writing assignments and vocabulary lists. Students will learn the proper MLA citation format in anticipation of college work. 

Grading: All students will receive a traditional letter grade unless otherwise requested by the parent.    

Class fees include materials and a copy of each book we will be reading.  

Sibling discount given:  10% off for the 2nd sibling, 20% off for the 3rd sibling, 30% off for the 4th sibling and any others.  Applicable across both this class and Swords and Stories part 2:  Pirates, Princesses and Printing Presses. 

About the Teacher:

Katya Voss has loved reading and literature since she was a small child, and that love has only grown with time. Homeschooled herself through 12th grade, Katya graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from UNM. She taught high school drama classes and directed multiple drama productions; she has also taught English classes at UNM. She has 12 years of experience teaching children through Awana programs and currently directs the Awana program at Sandia Baptist Church with her husband Robert. She has homeschooled all 9 of her children and graduated her oldest this past year. She has been teaching literature classes at Sightline Integrated Arts since 2021.