LITERATURE PROGRAM

Great works of literature are worth our time and effort. Delving deeply into great books and works of poetry helps us understand our fellow man, invites us to wrestle with the great themes and questions of the world, and stirs our thoughts toward eternity.

In the Christian classical tradition, we affirm that truth and beauty are objective realities reflecting God's nature. We also believe that great works of literature—though portraying a fallen world and fallen humanity—can echo His design and stir our longing for ultimate truth.

This is the lens through which students explore literature at Tyndale Institute. They are challenged to commit great works to heart, to seek out truth, to engage thoughtfully in discussion, and to nourish their ability to organize their thoughts and express their ideas with clarity and conviction.

Why Now?

Today, we find ourselves in a world that too readily outsources foundational knowledge, language, and even original thought. Unfortunately, this is occurring at great risk of losing an essential part of our humanity, especially for students growing up in our compounding digital age. Adding to the confusion, we also live in a world that often fails to recognize objective truth and which struggles to acknowledge the value of virtue. These two factors place our young learners at risk for a future that can seem disconnected and aimless.

That’s why, now more than ever, we must nurture our children with great words and enduring ideas from literature that stand the test of time. We must guide them towards foundational truths, while helping them develop their own voices to bring to the future. Our literature program fosters a deep understanding of both humanity and our relationship with God through study of written words which have stood the test of time, equipping students to thrive as thoughtful, articulate participants in the Great Conversation that spans millennia. Through a Classical, Christian approach to literature, we invite students to inherit the treasures of the past, while also rising to meet the future with wisdom, truth, courage and grace.