Syllabus:
First Flight Book Lessons
Footprints without Feet Book Lessons
Literature Topics
Fire and Ice by Robert Frost
Fire and Ice is a poem considering how the world might end, comparing the destructive forces of “fire” (equated with human desire) and “ice” (equated with hate), concluding that both…
Dust of Snow by Robert Frost
Dust of Snow is a brief poem depicting a speaker whose gloomy mood is unexpectedly transformed when a crow shakes a dusting of snow off a hemlock tree onto them,…
The Thief’s Story by Ruskin Bond
In “The Thief’s Story” by Ruskin Bond, a fifteen-year-old experienced criminal named Hari Singh befriends a kind and trusting writer named Anil to find an opportunity for theft. After gaining…
The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash
“The Tale of Custard the Dragon” is a poem written by Ogden Nash, who was renowned for writing over four hundred pieces of comic verse
. The poem is written in…
The Trees by Adrienne Rich
The Trees by Adrienne Rich “The Trees” is a powerful poem written by Adrienne Rich, a highly regarded American feminist and radical poet. At its core, the poem presents a…
Fog by Carl Sandburg
“Fog” is a beautifully concise, six-line poem written by the American poet Carl Sandburg
.
In this brief piece, the poet captures the quiet, mysterious essence of a natural phenomenon by comparing…
Amanda! by Robin Klein
The poem “Amanda!”, written by Robin Klein
, explores the tension between adult control and a child’s desire for independence. The introduction to the poem highlights that every child feels controlled…
The Ball Poem by John Berryman
“The Ball Poem” by John Berryman is a thoughtful poem about a young boy who loses his ball and becomes very upset
. Although a ball is inexpensive and easy to…
How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells
“How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells is a humorous poem that suggests some highly dangerous and absurd ways to identify (or ‘tell’) wild animals
. Designed to be read…
For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats
The poem “For Anne Gregory” by William Butler Yeats explores the tension between external beauty and internal worth through a dialogue about a woman’s striking golden hair. While the female speaker suggests she could dye her hair to ensure…
A Tiger In The Zoo by Leslie Norris
“A Tiger in the Zoo,” explores the profound tension between animal captivity and the natural world. Through a series of five stanzas, the sources analyze how a majestic predator is…
The Book That Saved the Earth by Claire Boiko
This play, set in the twenty-fifth century, tells the humorous story of how a book of nursery rhymes thwarted a Martian invasion of Earth in the year 2040. The arrogant…
Bholi by K.A. Abbas
The story follows Sulekha, a young girl nicknamed Bholi due to her perceived slow intelligence and physical scarring from smallpox. Initially neglected by her family and mocked for her stammer,…
The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
This short story by Guy de Maupassant follows Matilda Loisel, a woman who is deeply dissatisfied with her modest social standing and dreams of a life of luxury. When she is invited to a…
The Making of a Scientist by Robert W. Peterson
This text details the life and academic journey of Richard Ebright, a renowned scientist whose career was sparked by a childhood fascination with collecting butterflies. Supported by his mother’s encouragement and a…
Footprints without Feet by H.G. WELLS
The story follows a brilliant yet volatile scientist named Griffin, who successfully discovers a chemical method to make the human body transparent. Rather than using his breakthrough for good, he…
A Question of Trust by Victor Canning
This short story by Victor Canning follows Horace Danby, a man who maintains a respectable facade while funding his love for expensive books through an annual robbery. His latest heist…
The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur
This short story by Robert Arthur, titled “The Midnight Visitor,” features a non-traditional secret agent named Ausable who uses intellect over physical prowess. A young writer named Fowler is initially…
The Proposal by Anton Chekhov
This one-act play by Anton Chekhov titled “The Proposal,” which satirizes the marriage customs of 19th-century Russian landowners. The text begins by contextualizing the play with a modern description of Russian wedding traditions, including playful rituals…
The Sermon at Benaras
This literature piece centers on the universal experience of grief and the pursuit of spiritual peace through the story of the Buddha’s first sermon. It details how Siddhartha Gautama abandoned his royal life to seek enlightenment after witnessing human…
Madam Rides the Bus by Vallikkannan
“Madam Rides the Bus” by Vallikkannan, which tells the story of an inquisitive eight-year-old girl named Valli. Driven by an intense desire to see the world beyond her village, she meticulously saves…
Mijbil the Otter by Gavin Maxwell
Gavin Maxwell, who chose to adopt an otter named Mijbil while traveling in Iraq during 1956. Originally intended as a companion to replace his late dog, the otter proved to be an intelligent and highly…
Glimpses of India
Glimpses of India is a collection of three travel narratives that introduces readers to the rich cultural and geographical diversity of India. Through vivid descriptions and personal experiences, the chapter…
From the Diary of Anne Frank – Anne Frank
From the Diary of Anne Frank is an extract from The Diary of a Young Girl, written by Anne Frank. In this chapter, Anne explains why she began writing a…
Stories About Flying
The chapter “Two Stories about Flying” presents two inspiring stories that explore the themes of courage, self-confidence, hope, and determination. Although the stories differ in setting and characters, both highlight…
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
This prose piece details theNelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is an inspiring autobiographical extract by Nelson Mandela, taken from his famous autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. The chapter recounts…