Classical Reference Library
Practical guides for teachers introducing classic works in the classroom. These resources provide historical and literary background, discussion questions, teaching suggestions, writing prompts, and other materials designed to help students approach challenging texts with greater confidence and understanding.
TEACHING THE CLASSICS
A classroom-oriented guide to the major characters in Homer’s Iliad, with explanations of their roles in the poem, relationships and traits to watch, and questions that help students understand Homer’s treatment of heroism, honor, leadership, war, and mortality.
Read resource →TEACHING THE CLASSICS
A classroom-oriented guide to the major characters in Homer’s Odyssey, with explanations of their roles in the story, traits and relationships to watch, and questions that help students consider why each character matters.
Read resource →TEACHING THE CLASSICS
Discussion questions for Homer’s Iliad, organized around major episodes, characters, and themes, with prompts for close reading, classroom conversation, short written responses, and longer analysis
Read resource →TEACHING THE CLASSICS
Discussion questions for Homer’s Odyssey, organized around major episodes, characters, and themes, with prompts for close reading, classroom conversation, written responses, and longer analysis.
Read resource →TEACHING THE CLASSICS
A guide to the major themes of Homer’s Odyssey, including homecoming, identity, hospitality, loyalty, temptation, leadership, mortality, divine intervention, and justice, with questions to help students connect these ideas across the poem.
Read resource →TEACHING THE CLASSICS
A guide to the major themes of Homer’s Iliad, including anger, honor, heroism, leadership, friendship, mortality, fate, grief, family, and the human cost of war, with questions to help students connect these ideas across the poem.
Read resource →FOR STUDENTS
A practical introduction for students reading Homer for the first time, with guidance on unfamiliar names, gods, heroic values, repeated language, long speeches, battle scenes, and the best ways to approach The Iliad and The Odyssey without feeling overwhelmed.
Read resource →TEACHING THE CLASSICS
A practical guide to teaching Homer’s Iliad, with essential background, book-by-book guidance, central themes and questions, discussion topics, writing assignments, and a flexible framework for classroom use.
Read resource →TEACHING THE CLASSICS
A practical guide to teaching Homer’s Odyssey, with background for students, book-by-book guidance, central themes and questions, discussion topics, writing assignments, and a flexible framework for classroom use.
Read resource →TEACHING THE CLASSICS
Practical guidance for high school teachers planning an Odyssey unit, with suggestions for pacing, choosing what to read closely, helping students manage unfamiliar material, using discussion effectively, and balancing literary analysis with the momentum of the story.
Read resource →Hi! 👋 How can we help you today?
We're away right now. Leave your details and a message, and we'll get back to you by email.
