High School – Page 3 – My Audio School

May 27, 2010July 23, 2010

Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant

Summary: The title is from the Greek thanatos (“death”) and the suffix -opsis (literally, “sight”); it has often been translated as “Meditation upon Death”.

Due to the unusual quality of the verse and Bryant’s age when the poem was first published in 1817 by the North American Review, Richard Henry Dana, Sr., then associate editor at the Review, initially doubted its authenticity, saying to another editor, “No one, on this side of the Atlantic, is capable of writing such verses.”

Thanatopsis

e-text of Thanatopsis

May 26, 2010July 5, 2016

The Iliad by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler

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Total running time: 14 hours, 30 minutes

# 01 – The Quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon

# 02 – Agammemnon’s Dream

# 03 – Paris Challenges Menelaus

# 04 – A Quarrel in Olympus

# 05 – The exploits of Diomed

# 06 – Hector and Andromache

# 07 – Hector and Ajax Fight

# 08 – The Victory of the Trojans

# 09 – The Embassy to Achilles

# 10 – Ulysses and Diomed go out as Spies

# 11 – Agamemnon’s Day of Glory

# 12 – The Trojans Break the Wall

# 13 – Neptune helps the Achaeans

# 14 – Agamemnon Proposes that the Achaeans Should Sail Home

# 15 – Apollo Heals Hector

# 16 – Patroclus fights in the armor of Achilles

# 17 – The Light around the Body of Patroclus

# 18 – The Shield of Achilles

# 19 – Achilles Goes Out to Fight

# 20 – Achilles fights Aeneas

# 21 – Achilles Drives the Trojans Back

# 22 – The death of Hector

# 23 – The Funeral Games of Patroclus

# 24 – Priam Ransoms Hector’s Body

May 6, 2010May 29, 2010

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

Summary: A classic of early literary modernism, Lord Jim tells the story of a young “simple and sensitive character” who loses his honor in a display of cowardice at sea — and of his expiation of that sin against his own “shadowy ideal of conduct” on the remote island of Patusan. The novel, written by Conrad for magazine serialization during an intense and chaotic ten months in 1899 and 1900, has, in the words of Thomas C. Moser, “the rare distinction of being a masterpiece in two separate genres. It is at once an exotic adventure story of the Eastern seas in the popular tradition of Kipling and Stevenson and a complexly wrought ‘art novel’ in the tradition of Flaubert and James. (Summary by Stewart Wills for Librivox)

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Total running time: 14 hours, 25 minutes

Author’s Note and Chapter 1

May 6, 2010May 29, 2010

Silas Marner by George Eliot

Summary: Silas Marner (originally published in 1861): Betrayed by a beloved friend and accused of a crime he didn’t commit, awkward Silas Marner is expelled from his beloved religious community — the only community he has ever known. He exiles himself in the remote village of Raveloe. Friendless and without family, set apart from the villagers by their superstition and fear of him, he plies his weaving trade day after day, storing up gold which becomes his idol. When his gold is stolen, he is rescued from despair by the arrival on his lonely hearth of a beautiful little girl, whom he adopts, and through whom he and the other people of the village learn that loving relationships are more fulfilling than material wealth. (Summary by rachelellen for Librivox)

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Total running time: 6 hours, 47 minutes

May 5, 2010May 31, 2010

selected short stories and poems

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

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The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte

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Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson

e-text

Mr. Flood’s Party by Edwin Arlington Robinson

e-text

Lucinda Matlock by Edgar Lee Masters

e-text

May 5, 2010July 23, 2010

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

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Total running time: 11 hours, 40 minutes

Summary: A poor, disgruntled, drunken young man sells his wife and child to the highest bidder. When he awakens, sober, the next day he regrets his rash act and vows to give up drink and find his family and bring them home. Eventually he is forced to give up the search and move on with his life. He does this quite successfully until, nearly 20 years later, his past comes back to haunt him. (Summary by DebraLynn for Librivox)

May 4, 2010August 7, 2012

Robert Browning, selected poetry

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My Last Duchess by Robert Browning

Classic Poetry Aloud

My Last Duchess

e-text for My Last Duchess

Prospice

e-text for Prospice

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

e-text for The Pied Piper

Home Thoughts from Abroad by Robert Browning

Classic Poetry Aloud

e-text for Home Thoughts from Abroad

247. One Way of Love by Robert Browning

Classic Poetry Aloud

One Way of Love e-text

May 4, 2010May 31, 2011

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, selected poetry

Click here to see a selection of downloadable curriculum resources from CurrClick for studying poetry.

Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Classic Poetry Aloud

Kubla Kahn e-text

Broken Friendship by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Classic Poetry Aloud

e-text for Broken Friendship

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

e-text for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Fears in Solitude by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Classic Poetry Aloud

e-text for Fears in Solitude

May 1, 2010December 28, 2010

Percy Bysshe Shelley, selected poems

Ozymandias

etext for Ozymandias

Ode To a Skylark (excerpt from Poems Every Child Should Know)

etext for Ode To a Skylark

Lines

Lines e-text

258. To The Men Of England by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Classic Poetry Aloud

e-text for To The Men of England

The Moon by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Classic Poetry Aloud

The Moon e-text

Summer And Winter by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Classic Poetry Aloud

Summer and Winter e-text

One Word is too Often Profaned by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Classic Poetry Aloud

One Word e-text

April 19, 2010May 29, 2010

U. S. Historical Documents

Articles of Confederation

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U. S. Constitution

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Declaration of Independence

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Gettysburg Address

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March 25, 2010May 26, 2011

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

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The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic comedy of manners in which two flippant young men, in order to impress their respected beloveds, pretend that their names are “Ernest,” which both young ladies believe confers magical qualities on the possessor. It was first performed for the public on February 14, 1895 at the St. James’ Theatre in London, and is regarded by many critics and scholars as being the wittiest play in the English language. (Summary from Wikipedia.org)

# Act 1 – 00:50:46

# Act 2 – 00:56:33

# Act 3 – 00:30:22

March 25, 2010May 26, 2011

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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# 01 – Mr. Sherlock Holmes – 00:14:37

# 02 – The Curse of the Baskervilles – 00:22:15

# 03 – The Problem – 00:17:20

# 04 – Sir Henry Baskerville – 00:23:51

# 05 – Three Broken Threads – 00:20:48

# 06 – Baskerville Hall – 00:21:16

# 07 – The Stapletons of Merripit House – 00:30:33

# 08 – First Report of Dr. Watson – 00:16:40

# 09 – Second Report of Dr. Watson – 00:39:50

# 10 – Extract from the Diary of Dr. Watson – 00:22:08

# 11 – The Man on the Tor – 00:27:23

# 12 – Death on the Moor – 00:24:55

# 13 – Fixing the Nets – 00:23:38

# 14 – The Hound of the Baskervilles – 00:24:32

# 15 – A Retrospection – 00:23:13

March 24, 2010August 7, 2012

Washington Irving short stories

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

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Rip van Winkle

Rip van Winkle e-text

The Devil and Tom Walker

e-text of The Devil and Tom Walker

January 30, 2010May 20, 2011

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

Summary: The action takes place in London, with excursions to Devon, Yorkshire, and Portsmouth, as we follow the adventures of the eponymous hero. Nicholas is forced to unwelcome employment to help secure support for his widowed mother and his sister from their mercenary relative Ralph, on whose mercy they have been thrown. After many adventures Nicholas finally triumphs over his Uncle, although his success is also tinged with sadness. The book contains many memorable characters: the Yorkshire schoolmaster Wackford Squeers, the traveling thespian Vincent Crummles, the poor drudge Smike, the clerk Newman Noggs, and the wonderful and generous Brothers Cheeryble. (Summary by Chris Garbett for Librivox)

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Total running time: 34 hours

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January 27, 2010May 20, 2011

The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

Summary: The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, better known as The Pickwick Papers, is the first novel by Charles Dickens. Written for publication as a serial, The Pickwick Papers consists of a sequence of loosely-related adventures. Its main literary value and appeal is formed by its numerous unforgettable heroes. Each personage in The Pickwick Papers (just as in many other Dickens’ novels) is drawn comically, often with exaggerated features of character. Summary for Librivox

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Total running time: 32 hours

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# 01 – The Pickwickians

# 02 – The first Day’s Journey, and the first Evening’s Adventures; with their Consequences

# 03 – A New Acquaintance–The Stroller’s Tale–A Disagreeable Interruption, And An Unpleasant Encounter

# 04 – A Field Day and Bivouac–More new Friends–An Invitation to the Country

# 05 – A short one–Showing, among other Matters, how Mr. Pickwick undertook to drive, and Mr. Winkle to ride, and how they both did it

# 06 – An Old-Fashioned Card-Party — The Clergyman’s Verses — The Story Of The Convict’s Return

# 07 – How Mr. Winkle, instead of shooting at the Pigeon and killing the Crow, shot at the Crow and wounded the Pigeon; the Dingley Dell Cricket Club plays All-Muggleton, and All-Muggleton dines at the Dingley Dell Expense; with other interesting matters

# 08 – Strongly illustrative of the Position, that the Course of True Love is not a Railway

# 09 – A Discovery and a Chase

# 10 – Clearing up all Doubts (if any existed) of the Disinterestedness of Mr. A. Jingle’s Character

# 11 – Involving another Journey, and an Antiquarian Discovery; Recording Mr. Pickwick’s Determination to be present at an Election; and containing a Manuscript of the old Clergyman’s

# 12 – Descriptive of a very important Proceeding on the Part of Mr. Pickwick; no less an Epoch in his Life, than in this History

# 13 – Some Account of Eatanswill; of the State of Parties therein; and of the Election of a Member to serve in Parliament for that ancient, loyal, and patriotic Borough

# 14 – Comprising a brief Description of the Company at the Peacock assembled; and a Tale told by a Bagman

# 15 – In which is given a faithful Portraiture of two distinguished Persons; and an accurate Description of a public Breakfast in their House and Grounds: which public Breakfast leads to the Recognition of an old Acquaintance

# 16 – Too Full of Adventure To Be Briefly Described

# 17 – Showing that an Attack of Rheumatism, in some Cases, acts as a Quickener to inventive Genius

# 18 – Briefly illustrative of two Points; first, the Power of Hysterics, and, secondly, the Force of Circumstances

# 19 – A pleasant Day with an unpleasant Termination

# 20 – Showing how Dodson and Fogg were Men of Business, and their Clerks Men of pleasure; and how an affecting Interview took place between Mr. Weller and his long-lost Parent; showing also what Choice Spirits assembled at the Magpie and Stump, and what a Capital Character the next one will be.

# 21 – In which the old Man launches forth into his favourite Theme, and relates a Story about a queer Client

# 22 – Mr. Pickwick journeys to Ipswich and meets with a romantic Adventure with a middle-aged Lady in yellow Curl-papers

# 23 – In which Mr. Samuel Weller begins to devote his Energies to the Return Match between himself and Mr. Trotter

# 24 – Wherein Mr. Peter Magnus grows jealous, and the middle-aged Lady apprehensive, which brings the Pickwickians within the Grasp of the Law

# 25 – Showing, among a Variety of pleasant Matters, how majestic and impartial Mr. Nupkins was; and how Mr. Weller returned Mr. Job Trotter’s Shuttlecock as heavily as it came–With another Matter, which will be found in its Place

# 26 – Which contains a brief Account of the Progress of the Action of Bardell against Pickwick

# 27 – Samuel Weller makes a Pilgrimage to Dorking, and beholds his Mother-in-law

# 28 – A good-humoured Christmas Chapter, containing an Account of a Wedding, and some other Sports beside: which although in their Way even as good Customs as Marriage itself, are not quite so religiously kept up, in these degenerate Times

# 29 – The Story of the Goblins who stole a Sexton

# 30 – How the Pickwickians made and cultivated the Acquaintance of a Couple of nice young Men belonging to one of the liberal Professions; how they disported themselves on the Ice; and how their Visit came to a Conclusion

# 31 – Which is all about the Law, and sundry Great Authorities learned therein

# 32 – Describes, far more fully than the Court Newsman ever did, a Bachelor’s Party, given by Mr. Bob Sawyer at his Lodgings in the Borough

$Mr. Winkle Soothes the Refractory Steed by Robert Seymour, public domain image$

# 33 – Mr. Weller the elder delivers some Critical Sentiments respecting Literary Composition; and, assisted by his Son Samuel, pays a small Instalment of Retaliation to the Account of the Reverend Gentleman with the Red Nose

# 34 – Is wholly devoted to a full and faithful Report of the memorable Trial of Bardell against Pickwick

# 35 – In which Mr. Pickwick thinks he had better go to Bath; and goes accordingly

# 36 – The chief Features of which will be found to be an authentic Version of the Legend of Prince Bladud, and a most extraordinary Calamity that befell Mr. Winkle

# 37 – Honourably accounts for Mr. Weller’s Absence, by describing a Soiree to which he was invited and went; also relates how he was intrusted by Mr. Pickwick with a Private Mission of Delicacy and Importance

# 38 – How Mr. Winkle, when he stepped out of the Frying-pan, walked gently and comfortably into the Fire

# 39 – Mr. Samuel Weller, being intrusted with a Mission of Love, proceeds to execute it; with what Success will hereinafter appear

# 40 – Introduces Mr. Pickwick to a new and not uninteresting Scene in the great Drama of Life

# 41 – What befell Mr. Pickwick when he got into the Fleet; what Prisoners he saw there; and how he passed the Night

# 42 – Illustrative, like the preceding one, of the old Proverb, that Adversity brings a Man acquainted with strange Bedfellows–Likewise containing Mr. Pickwick’s extraordinary and startling Announcement to Mr. Samuel Weller

# 43 – Showing how Mr. Samuel Weller got into Difficulties

# 44 – Treats of divers little Matters which occurred in the Fleet, and of Mr. Winkle’s mysterious Behaviour; and shows how the poor Chancery Prisoner obtained his Release at last

# 45 – Descriptive of an affecting Interview between Mr. Samuel Weller and a Family Party. Mr. Pickwick makes a Tour of the diminutive World he inhabits, and resolves to mix with it, in Future, as little as possible

# 46 – Records a touching Act of delicate Feeling not unmixed with Pleasantry, achieved and performed by Messrs. Dodson and Fogg

# 47 – Is chiefly devoted to Matters of Business, and the temporal Advantage of Dodson and Fogg–Mr. Winkle reappears under extraordinary Circumstances–Mr. Pickwick’s Benevolence proves stronger than his Obstinacy

# 48 – Relates how Mr. Pickwick, with the Assistance of Samuel Weller, essayed to soften the Heart of Mr. Benjamin Allen, and to mollify the Wrath of Mr. Robert Sawyer

# 49 – Containing the Story of the Bagman’s Uncle

# 50 – How Mr. Pickwick sped upon his Mission, and how he was reinforced in the Outset by a most unexpected Auxiliary

# 51 – In which Mr. Pickwick encounters an old Acquaintance–To which fortunate Circumstance the Reader is mainly indebted for Matter of thrilling Interest herein set down, concerning two great Public Men of Might and Power

# 52 – Involving a serious Change in the Weller Family, and the untimely Downfall of Mr. Stiggins

# 53 – Comprising the final Exit of Mr. Jingle and Job Trotter, with a great Morning of business in Gray’s Inn Square–Concluding with a Double Knock at Mr. Perker’s Door

# 54 – Containing some Particulars relative to the Double Knock, and other Matters: among which certain interesting Disclosures relative to Mr. Snodgrass and a Young Lady are by no Means irrelevant to this History

# 55 – Mr. Solomon Pell, assisted by a Select Committee of Coachmen, arranges the affairs of the elder Mr. Weller

# 56 – An important Conference takes place between Mr. Pickwick and Samuel Weller, at which his Parent assists–An old Gentleman in a snuff- coloured Suit arrives unexpectedly

# 57 – In which the Pickwick Club is finally dissolved, and everything concluded to the Satisfaction of Everybody

January 3, 2010July 5, 2016

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

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Summary from Librivox: Hamlet is commonly regarded as one of the greatest plays ever written. Drawing on Danish chronicles and the Elizabethan vogue for revenge tragedy, Shakespeare created a play that is at once a philosophic treatise, a family drama, and a supernatural thriller. In the wake of his father’s death, Prince Hamlet finds that his Uncle Claudius has swiftly taken the throne and married his mother, Queen Gertrude. The ghost of the dead king then appears and charges Claudius with ‘murder most foul.’ Hamlet is called to revenge his father’s death: but will he be able to act before it is too late?

Dramatis Personae – 00:02:42

November 21, 2009April 27, 2011

Works of Sallust: The Catiline Conspiracy and the Jugurthine War

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Running time: 6 hours, 44 minutes

November 15, 2009December 28, 2010

Le Morte d’Arthur, volume 1 by Thomas Malory

Note to parent: Le Morte d’Arthur appears on many high school reading lists. Please be aware that some chapters may contain violent and disgusting imagery, sensuality or profanity. Please consult your trusted curriculum provider about which chapters you want to assign to your child, and preview material yourself if you have concerns.

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Running time: 15 hours, 50 minutes