LITERATURE PROGRAM

At Tyndale Institute, we believe great literature is not merely an academic pursuit, but a way of cultivating virtue and wonder. Through a Classical Christian approach, students engage with the great works of the Western tradition—texts that have shaped our cultural, philosophical, and moral heritage.

Guided reading, memory work, thoughtful discussion, and creative expression help students build strong reasoning and communication skills while deepening their understanding of truth, beauty, humanity, and eternity as it is found in literature. We hope to help literature become a living conversation for students, one that will shape their hearts and minds for a life of wisdom, courage, and grace.

Our literature program develops students through classical methods and Christ-centered engagement:

• Grow in an understanding of truth, beauty, humanity, and eternity by studying literature through the lens of the Classical Christian tradition.

• Build a rich foundation of memory and knowledge by reciting and engaging with Great Books and poetic texts.

• Develop reasoning and analysis skills through guided engagement with great works of literature.

• Cultivate excellent oral expression through group discussions and instructor modeling.

• Nurture eloquence and virtue by imitating the beautiful language of great authors and the noble character of worthy figures.

• Learn to discern trustworthy voices in literature by engaging with works that have stood the test of time, guided by the classical Christian tradition.

At Tyndale Institute, students embark on a carefully designed journey through the great works of the Western literary tradition. Our curriculum, developed in-house by our instructors, begins by introducing students to the broad sweep of literary history and gradually guides them into deeper, period-specific, and later thematic studies as they grow in wisdom and expressive ability.

We focus primarily on primary source materials, engaging students directly with the words of the great authors themselves. Our methods include:

• Memory work that strengthens students’ minds and nourishes a lasting relationship with great words and ideas.

• Guided reading that trains students to engage thoughtfully with challenging texts.

• Thoughtful discussion that sharpens reasoning, discernment, and respectful dialogue.

• Creative and academic expression which strengthens students' ability to express original thoughts.

Through these practices, students are equipped not only to retain key ideas and historical contexts, but also to form a lasting relationship with the great works of literature.

Foundations in Literature:

• Aesop’s Fables and Early Tales (Grades 2–3)
  Students are introduced to great stories that shape moral imagination and connect timeless truths to the real world through guided reading, discussion, and creative exploration.

Introductory Survey:

• A Journey Through the Ages (Grades 3–6)
  Students explore one or two carefully chosen works from each major literary period—from ancient mythology to modern poetry. This course lays a foundation by introducing timeless ideas and authors in an accessible, engaging way.

Chronological Literary Studies (after A Journey Through the Ages)

• Ancient Literature (c. 2000 B.C.–500 A.D.) (Grades 4–7)

• Medieval Literature (c. 500–1500) (Grades 5–8)

• Renaissance and Reformation Literature (c. 1500–1660) (Grades 6–9)

• Enlightenment and Romanticism (c. 1660–1830) (Grades 7–10)

• Victorian and 19th Century Literature (c. 1830–1900) (Grades 8–11)

• Modern and Contemporary Literature (c. 1900–Present) (Grades 9–12)

Advanced and Thematic Electives:

• The Inklings: Literature and Faith in the 20th Century (Grades 10–12)
  An exploration of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and related Christian thinkers whose works have profoundly influenced modern literature and Christian thought.