These are a crucial type of reading for homeschool high school literature: Allegory!
Allegory in Homeschool High School Literature
There are many crucial categories of reading for teens. Allegory is one important genre for homeschool high school literature studies.
I know some teens groan if you even say the word “allegory”. They think ancient, difficult-to-read, boring books. But that isn’t necessarily so. Allegory can be inspirational, interesting homeschool high school literature.
- Teens are arriving at the human development stage of “metacognition”. This is an exciting, vital time in neural development, where the brain cells have matured enough to think and discuss deep thoughts about symbolism. Allegories are pure symbolism. Every character, setting, and event is symbolic of ideas that the author is trying to convey.
- The perfect time to add complex symbolism to a homeschooler’s literary diet is during these early metacognitive years. Allegory is GREAT brain exercise!
- Allegories reveal complex concepts in word pictures to make them easy to understand. Take for instance, teens learn as they read Pilgrim’s Progress about the Biblical warnings on worldly wisdom. While John Bunyan could have written a Bible study on the topic, he included the character Mr. Worldly Wiseman, who acted out the concept. Illustrating concepts through personification enlightens homeschool high school readers about the dangers of worldly wisdom.
- Allegories, through symbolism, can powerfully expose dysfunctional governments or cultures. For instance, homeschool high schoolers need to read Animal Farm in order to truly understand the culture of pre-Cold War communism in the Soviet Union.
- Reading allegories should stimulate great discussion in the family, learning co-op, or group classes. Often allegories inspire homeschool high schoolers to explore historical periods, governments, and cultures. This adds so much richness to their learning experiences.
Make time in your homeschool high schoolers’ reading schedule to cover great allegories like John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Download 7Sisters’ Literature Study Guides to help homeschool high schoolers understand allegorical concepts, learn background information and vocabulary, and master comprehension and inferential questions. Each no-busywork, don’t-kill-the-book guide includes extra activities for teens who want to level up to rigorous Honors level.
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