Unit 1: Early Civilizations and River Valley Societies
● Epic of Gilgamesh (Mesopotamia)
○ Focus: Analyze themes of mortality, friendship, and human ambition; consider
how the text reflects Sumerian culture.
○ Discussion: Compare Gilgamesh’s search for immortality with modern human
quests for legacy or meaning.
● Egyptian Book of the Dead (Ancient Egypt)
○ Focus: Examine the moral and religious beliefs reflected in the texts; analyze
specific spells or passages.
○ Activity: Write a reflective piece comparing Egyptian afterlife beliefs with another
ancient or modern belief system.
● Book of Songs (Ancient China)
○ Focus: Analyze the poetic language and explore how the poems reflect social,
political, or family concerns.
○ Activity: Choose a poem and provide a detailed literary analysis of its structure,
imagery, and themes.
Unit 2: Classical Civilizations
● Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey (Greece)
○ Focus: Discuss themes of honor, fate, and leadership; explore the cultural values
embedded in epic poetry.
○ Activity: Write an essay comparing a character’s journey or decisions to a
modern leadership or ethical dilemma.
● Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Rome)
○ Focus: Examine how myths explain natural phenomena and human behavior;
analyze the role of transformation.
○ Activity: Select one myth and rewrite it as a modern short story, maintaining its
central theme.
● The Ramayana (India)
○ Focus: Analyze the ideals of dharma (duty), loyalty, and morality presented in the
text.
○ Activity: Debate a moral choice made by Rama or another character and defend
your interpretation with textual evidence.
● Han Dynasty Poetry (China)
○ Focus: Explore political and philosophical ideas in selected poems; analyze tone
and style.
○ Activity: Write a comparative analysis between a Han poem and a Western poem
on a similar theme (e.g., war, nature).
● Popol Vuh (Maya)
○ Focus: Study the creation myths and their importance for Maya identity; compare
to other cultural origin stories.
○ Activity: Present an oral report or multimedia project connecting the Popol Vuh to
Maya art or archaeology.
Unit 3: Post-Classical Era
● Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon Europe)
○ Focus: Explore themes of heroism, loyalty, and mortality; analyze the role of fate
and reputation.
○ Activity: Write a critical essay on whether Beowulf is ultimately a successful or
tragic hero.
● The Tale of Genji (Japan)
○ Focus: Analyze the portrayal of court life, gender roles, and aesthetics in Heian
Japan.
○ Activity: Compose a character analysis exploring Genji’s strengths and flaws,
supported by examples.
● Rumi’s Poetry (Islamic World)
○ Focus: Examine themes of love, spirituality, and the search for meaning; discuss
the poetic form and language.
○ Activity: Choose a poem and write an analytical reflection connecting its themes
to personal or modern experiences.
● Epic of Sundiata (West Africa)
○ Focus: Analyze leadership, destiny, and oral tradition; explore how the epic
shapes Mali’s cultural identity.
○ Activity: Write an essay comparing Sundiata’s leadership qualities to those of
another historical figure.
● Norse Sagas (Vikings)
○ Focus: Examine themes of exploration, family loyalty, and vengeance; analyze
saga structure.
○ Activity: Compare a saga’s treatment of honor and conflict to a modern novel or
film.
Unit 4: Renaissance, Reformation, Exploration
● Dante’s Divine Comedy (Italy)
○ Focus: Analyze allegory, symbolism, and religious themes; discuss the historical
context of Dante’s vision.
○ Activity: Write an analytical essay on how Dante’s journey reflects medieval
worldviews.
● Shakespeare’s Plays (England)
○ Focus: Explore themes of power, ambition, love, and betrayal; analyze
Shakespeare’s use of language and dramatic techniques.
○ Activity: Perform or closely read a scene, then write a character analysis or
theme essay.
● Don Quixote (Spain)
○ Focus: Examine satire, idealism vs. reality, and the nature of heroism.
○ Activity: Write a literary analysis on how Cervantes critiques social or literary
conventions.
● Aztec and Inca Oral Traditions (Translated)
○ Focus: Study the oral tradition’s role in preserving history; analyze the values and
worldview reflected in myths.
○ Activity: Research and present how oral traditions have shaped modern
understanding of these cultures.
● Explorer Accounts (Columbus, de Gama, etc.)
○ Focus: Critically examine perspectives, biases, and impacts of European
exploration.
○ Activity: Write a position paper analyzing the long-term effects of exploration on
indigenous cultures.
Let me know if you want detailed essay prompts or printable discussion questions for these
readings!
World History Literature Printable Discussion Questions (High School Level)
Below are discussion questions for each reading selection, designed for two high school
students to engage in meaningful conversation, critical thinking, and deeper understanding.
Unit 1: Early Civilizations and River Valley Societies
● Epic of Gilgamesh
1. What do Gilgamesh’s adventures reveal about ancient Sumerian views on
mortality and the afterlife?
2. How does the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu drive the story’s main
themes?
● Egyptian Book of the Dead
1. What do the spells and rituals suggest about the Egyptians’ moral values?
2. How does the Egyptian concept of the afterlife compare to modern religious
beliefs?
● Book of Songs (Ancient China)
1. How do the poems reflect daily life and societal expectations in ancient China?
2. Which poem speaks most to you, and why?
Unit 2: Classical Civilizations
● Iliad and Odyssey
1. How do honor and fate shape the actions of key characters?
2. In what ways are the struggles of Odysseus still relatable today?
● Metamorphoses (Ovid)
1. How do the transformations in these myths explore human desires or fears?
2. What lessons or warnings do these myths offer?
● The Ramayana
1. How do Rama and Sita embody ideals of duty and loyalty?
2. Do you agree with Rama’s decisions? Why or why not?
● Han Dynasty Poetry
1. What emotions or political concerns are expressed in the poems?
2. How does nature imagery reinforce the poet’s message?
● Popol Vuh (Maya)
1. How does the Popol Vuh explain the Maya understanding of creation and the
gods?
2. What values or lessons can modern readers take from these stories?
Unit 3: Post-Classical Era
● Beowulf
1. What makes Beowulf a hero, and where do his flaws appear?
2. How does the poem portray the relationship between fate and human action?
● The Tale of Genji
1. How are love and relationships depicted in the courtly world of Genji?
2. What does the story reveal about Heian-era Japanese society?
● Rumi’s Poetry
1. How does Rumi use metaphor to convey spiritual truths?
2. Which of Rumi’s themes feel most relevant to your life, and why?
● Epic of Sundiata
1. How does Sundiata’s destiny shape his actions?
2. What role does oral storytelling play in preserving the history of Mali?
● Norse Sagas
1. How do the sagas balance themes of honor and revenge?
2. What can modern readers learn from Viking values and conflicts?
Unit 4: Renaissance, Reformation, Exploration
● Divine Comedy (Dante)
1. How does Dante use allegory to explore moral and religious ideas?
2. What does the journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise teach about human
nature?
● Shakespeare’s Plays
1. How does Shakespeare use dramatic irony to build tension?
2. Choose one character: how do their ambitions or desires drive the plot?
● Don Quixote
1. How does Cervantes use humor to critique society?
2. Do you see Don Quixote as a foolish character or an admirable idealist?
● Aztec and Inca Oral Traditions
1. How do these oral traditions help preserve cultural identity?
2. What can we learn about the values of these civilizations through their stories?
● Explorer Accounts
1. How do the explorers’ perspectives shape their descriptions of the lands and
peoples they encounter?
2. What ethical questions arise from reading these exploration accounts today?
