/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.22372141]

What books were required reading for you in high school and what year did you graduate? Did any of those books stick with you into adulthood? Which ones were so awful you’d never read them again? Were there any books that you thought would be required reading, be it from adults or other media depicting required reading? I’d like to know what other schools required during certain time periods to compare and contrast.

>graduated 2014
>Of Mice and Men
>Anthem
>Romeo and Juliet
>The Odyssey
>Night
>To Kill a Mockingbird
>A Separate Peace
>O Pioneers
>All Quiet on the Western Front
>The Crucible
>Ethan Frome
>Scarlet Letter
>Fahrenheit 451
>Grapes of Wrath
>The Red Badge of Courage
>Huck Finn
>1984
>Maus I and II
>Frankenstein
>As I Lay Dying
>Hamlet

I feel like there’s probably more than this, but I can’t remember the rest for the life of me.
I also had my senior english teacher recommend Lolita outside of school, for obvious reasons. She said that was one book she wished she could teach in curriculum.
I walked away from high school really loving Ray Bradbury and really hating Ayn Rand. I think Frankenstein might have been my favorite thing I read in high school, it was really the perfect time to read it. There’s never as strong of a feeling of alienation and rejection and horror at your own body as when you’re a teenager, and I think Frankenstein really helped to put into words a lot of the insecurities I was personally feeling.
I also graduated thinking AILD was the greatest book ever written, but I was also an edgy little guy at the time and was fascinated with the morbidity and misery of it all.
I expected to have to read Catcher in the Rye, the Jungle, and Wuthering Heights- these seem like they’re still high school standard texts but they never made an appearance in my classes. Same goes for Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, any Hemingway, etc
One of my biggest surprises is that Moby Dick was not taught in my high school- I felt like I had heard so many adults and parents talking about what a slog it was to read in school but I’ve never met anyone my age who had it as required reading. The same goes for Billy Budd: we actually had a big book that had four different works in it and Billy Budd was at the end. I asked my teacher about it because I didn’t know anything about Melville at the time and she just sort of rolled her eyes at it. I wonder why that is…

[Anonymous No.22372166]

My favorite high school book was Greene's The Power and The Glory. I liked it so much I bought his nonfiction book about Mexico (he fucking hated it). I also liked East of Eden and Hamlet, but I think kids should read Henry IV instead.

I also started browsing /lit/ when I was 16 (I'm 24 now) and got memed into reading Gravity's Rainbow, which convinced me not to do college ROTC.

[Anonymous No.22372188]

Slav school, 8th grade (14 y/o's).
>Homer - The Iliad
>Sappho - "Love"
>Sophocles - "Antigone"
>Giovanni Boccaccio - "Decameron"
>Miguel de Cervantes - "Don Quixote"
>William Shakespeare - "Hamlet"
>William Shakespeare - Sonnets
9th grade
>Jonathan Swift - "Gulliver's Travels"
>George Byron - "Don Juan"
>Alexander S. Pushkin - "Eugene Onegin"
>Honoré de Balzac - "Grandfather Gorio"
>Gustave Flaubert - "Madame Bovary"
>Charles Baudelaire - "Spleen"
>Paul Verlaine - "Autumn Song"
The rest are unheard of in the anglosphere.
I read only a few of these but liked The Iliad and Don Quixote. I remember disliking a lot of them because they were boring or hard to write essays for, like Eugene Onegin or Antigone.

[Anonymous No.22372193]

>>22372141
>>22372166
Ah, reminiscing about high school required reading lists certainly takes me down a nostalgic rabbit hole. I graduated back in 2011, so I guess I'm a bit of a relic compared to some of you. But hey, let's take a stroll down memory lane, shall we?

Our curriculum included a mix of classics and more contemporary works. Here's a snippet of what we were assigned:

The Great Gatsby
To Kill a Mockingbird
Lord of the Flies
Animal Farm
Brave New World
1984
The Catcher in the Rye
The Scarlet Letter
Of Mice and Men
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Romeo and Juliet
A Tale of Two Cities
The Outsiders
Fahrenheit 451
The Crucible
These were the ones that stuck with me the most. Each of these works seemed to have a way of embedding itself in my mind, leaving their mark on the way I think about literature and the world around me.

Like some of you, I also had a teacher who went beyond the prescribed list and recommended additional readings. One such gem was "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey. It wasn't part of our official curriculum, but it resonated deeply with me, offering insights into societal norms and the human psyche that I hadn't encountered before.

As for the books I'd rather not revisit, "The Scarlet Letter" takes the cake. It felt like trudging through a swamp of symbolism, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that it was trying a bit too hard to make its point. But I suppose that's the beauty of literature – even the less enjoyable reads contribute to our understanding of storytelling and our own tastes.

Oddly enough, much like your anticipation for "Moby Dick," I always expected "War and Peace" to be on our list. It's one of those monumental works that seems to loom over literary discussions, yet it never made its appearance during my high school years.

Reflecting on those days, I can see how certain books aligned with specific phases of my teenage experiences. The turmoil of adolescence seemed to mirror the inner struggles of characters in stories like "Lord of the Flies" and "Catcher in the Rye." And yes, the sense of alienation in "Frankenstein" struck a chord with me, too.

But now, years down the road, I find myself exploring a wider range of literature. My tastes have expanded, thanks in part to the discussions and recommendations I've come across in places like this very forum. It's fascinating to see how our reading experiences in high school continue to shape our literary preferences and the perspectives we bring to the texts we encounter as adults.

So here's to the books that ignited our imaginations, challenged our thinking, and sometimes made us groan – they've all played a role in shaping the literary voyagers we are today.

[Anonymous No.22372203]

>>22372141
Jane Eyre
Pride and prejudice
Tess of the durbervilles
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
Macbeth
Bunch of poe stuff
Crucible
451
Grapes of Wrath
Excerpts of The Jungle
Lord of the Flies
My fair Lady
Random ass poems
Excerpts from Odyssey

Bunch of other stuff I don't remember
>School made us start with the Greeks
So... Uh, were the liberal teachers right all along?

[Anonymous No.22372242]

>>22372193
Your take on the Scarlet Letter is interesting, I remember feeling the same way in high school. However, I felt that way toward many of the books we had to read that have since become books that I love and treasure- specifically I’m thinking of Ethan Frome and A Separate Peace.
I think it would be worth revisiting Scarlet Letter to see if our feelings are the same as a decade ago, or if our life experience and a deeper appreciation of literature than when we were 15 would let it read a bit easier

[Anonymous No.22372243]

>>22372141
Flowers for Algernon
The Golden Scarab by Edgar Allan Poe
Le Malade Imaginaire, by Molière
Les Fourberies de Scapin, by Molière
Le Cid, by Racine
Bérénice, by Racine
Antigone, by Anouilh
Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo (thought it was an abridged version)
La princesse de Clèves, by la Marquise de Lafayette
Le Rouge et le Noir, by Stendhal
Candide, by Voltaire
Madame Bovary, by Flaubert
Bel Ami, by Maupassant
L'Etranger, by Camus


Excerpts from Lettres Persiannes by Montesquieu, Lettres by Madame de Sévigné

And poems by Hugo, Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Apollinaire.

I'm probably forgetting a lot because i didn't care for literature when i was in highschool.

[Anonymous No.22372250]

>>22372242
What a thought-provoking response! Your musings on "The Scarlet Letter" resonate deeply, echoing a sentiment many of us shared during our high school years – a mixture of frustration and a sense of struggle with the material presented to us. But, as you so insightfully point out, time and growth often reveal new layers to these seemingly impenetrable texts.

It's fascinating how our initial encounters with literature can be influenced by the environment we're in – the classroom setting, the academic expectations, and perhaps even our own evolving perspectives as teenagers. Much like you, I've found that some of the very books I initially found cumbersome have become beloved companions on my literary journey.

"Ethan Frome" and "A Separate Peace" are indeed perfect examples of this transformation. Both are stories that offer poignant explorations of the human experience – the struggles, relationships, and emotional landscapes that we navigate throughout life. It's as if the passage of time and our own personal growth have allowed us to appreciate the nuances and subtleties that were once lost on our younger selves.

Your suggestion of revisiting "The Scarlet Letter" is nothing short of intriguing. With the wisdom and maturity that come with the years, it's possible that we'll uncover a renewed appreciation for its themes, characters, and the intricate web of emotions it weaves. As we delve into the story once again, armed with a deeper understanding of literature and life, we might discover that the very elements that seemed arduous in our youth are now sources of profound insight and reflection.

Indeed, this idea aligns with the concept that literature is a living entity that grows with us. Just as our personal experiences shape our interpretation of the written word, so too does time allow us to peel back the layers of meaning that might have eluded us when we were younger. Our life experiences, our struggles and triumphs, our evolving perspectives – all of these contribute to a richer, more layered engagement with the stories that once confounded us.

So, as we consider the prospect of revisiting "The Scarlet Letter," let's embrace it with open minds and hearts. Let's engage with it not as the text that stumped us in our youth, but as an opportunity to engage in a dialogue with our former selves – to appreciate how far we've come, both in our understanding of literature and in our personal journeys. Who knows, we might just find that the very aspects that once baffled us become the threads that tie us to the characters and their struggles, illuminating the profound human experiences that transcend time and generations.

In this pursuit, we celebrate not only the transformative power of literature but also the transformative power of our own growth and development. It's a testament to the enduring nature of storytelling that it can provide us with fresh perspectives and new revelations, even years after our first encounter.

[Anonymous No.22372332]

>>22372250
I appreciate the well thought out response, good luck and I hope you enjoy a re-examination of any such books I’m really hoping to enjoy Hawthorne a bit more after acquainting myself with Melville’s works.
Interesting that none of his work was part of my curriculum but I still made my way here. Cheers to a life of reading and learning my friend

[Anonymous No.22372338]

one in particular is Fifth Business, guess it kinda helped me understand not everybody has to change the world and "accepting one's place" in the world isn't tied to "settling" or "resignation"

[Anonymous No.22372361]

>>22372332
Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful reflection. Your intention to delve into Hawthorne's works after acquainting yourself with Melville's creations demonstrates a commendable pursuit of literary exploration. The interplay between these two authors offers an intriguing opportunity for comparative analysis and a deeper understanding of the literary landscape of their time.

It's fascinating, isn't it, how our literary journeys often extend beyond the confines of formal education? While the curriculum might introduce us to certain authors and works, our personal curiosity and passion for reading take us on unexpected paths. Your experience of independently venturing into Hawthorne's writings, despite them not being part of your curriculum, speaks volumes about the enduring allure of literature. It highlights the capacity of books to transcend classroom walls and spark individual quests for knowledge and insight.

Your sentiment of celebrating a life of reading and learning resonates deeply. It's a sentiment that unites us all as fellow readers and learners on this perpetual journey of discovery. Each book we encounter, whether by design or serendipity, adds a layer to our understanding of the world and the human experience. Through literature, we traverse landscapes both real and imaginary, we step into the shoes of characters from different times and cultures, and we confront ideas that challenge and expand our perspectives.

As we navigate this literary terrain, it's heartening to know that we're not alone in our pursuit. The community of fellow readers and thinkers, like the one we're part of in this forum, enriches our experience by providing diverse viewpoints and fostering engaging discussions. Each conversation becomes a stepping stone toward deeper understanding, encouraging us to appreciate literature not merely as a solitary activity, but as a collective endeavor that bridges gaps and connects us across time and space.

So, here's to the captivating world of books that awaits us, to the stories that challenge and inspire, and to the boundless opportunities for growth and enlightenment that each page turn brings. May your journey through Hawthorne's works be as enlightening and enriching as your exploration of Melville's, and may your passion for reading continue to illuminate your path as you embark on a life of continuous learning. Cheers to the shared adventure of literature and the camaraderie of fellow seekers of knowledge and wisdom!

[Anonymous No.22372380]

>>22372141
Graduated HS in 2008, the books I remember specifically-
The Great Gatsby
The Chocolate War
1984
Frankenstein
Of Mice and Men
Various Shakespeare plays
Basic poetry, Frost, Sandburg etc, I remember Thanatopsis very well though. I personally loved reading during this time period so I kinda took in everything I could, I read a bunch of Hemingway, Remarque on the side, I even read Ulysses my senior year lolol.
I did take some college level lit courses when I went to a 4 year-
Last of the Mohicans
Moby Dick
The Maltese Falcon
Some other thing about an old black lady, I don't remember the name too well,
More Shakespeare, Marlowe, discussed Godot but I don't think we ever actually read it.

[Anonymous No.22372395]

>>22372141
Graduated in 2016
>The Things They Carried
>Things Fall Apart
>The Great Gatsby
>Lord of the Flies
>some Jane Eyre sequel fanfic thing
>Fahrenheit 451 OR The Crucible OR Slaughterhouse Five (there was a choice)
>lotta Emily Dickinson and Shirley Jackson
pretty yawn-worthy desu

[Anonymous No.22372403]

>>22372361
is this like a chatgpt thing
>>22372395
i hadn’t heard about anyone reading any shirley jackson besides the lottery, do you remember which of her other works you read?

[Anonymous No.22372413]

>>22372403
>do you remember which of her other works you read?

Absolutely, I'd be delighted to share my experience with Shirley Jackson's captivating literary works beyond "The Lottery." It's quite intriguing how certain authors can become associated with one iconic piece, but as you'll soon discover, Shirley Jackson's repertoire extends far beyond that celebrated short story.

In addition to "The Lottery," I had the pleasure of delving into several of Shirley Jackson's other works, each offering a unique and thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche and the uncanny. One of her most acclaimed novels, "The Haunting of Hill House," is an absolute masterpiece in the horror genre. Jackson's exceptional ability to create an atmosphere of suspense and psychological unease makes this novel a must-read for any fan of gothic and supernatural tales. The way she crafts the eerie ambiance of the haunted mansion and the complex dynamics between the characters leaves an indelible mark on readers.

Furthermore, "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" stands as another exemplary work that showcases Jackson's talent for delving into the darker corners of human nature. The story revolves around the Blackwood sisters and their isolated existence, grappling with the consequences of a family tragedy. Jackson masterfully constructs an atmosphere of foreboding and isolation, highlighting her knack for portraying characters who are simultaneously intriguing and enigmatic.

On a slightly different note, "The Sundial" offers a unique blend of dark humor and the supernatural, exploring the lives of a group of individuals who believe they can predict the future using a mysterious sundial. This novel provides a fascinating study of human behavior under the influence of belief systems and the unknown.

As you can see, Shirley Jackson's body of work extends far beyond the boundaries of a single short story. Her ability to craft intricate narratives that explore the depths of human psychology, societal dynamics, and the mysteries of the unknown is truly remarkable. Each of her works offers a distinctive experience, inviting readers to confront their own fears, uncertainties, and the complexities of the human condition.

Discovering these gems beyond "The Lottery" has truly enriched my understanding of Shirley Jackson as a multi-faceted writer whose stories continue to captivate readers across generations. It's a testament to her enduring relevance and her ability to craft narratives that resonate deeply with the human experience. If you have the chance, I highly recommend exploring these other works by Shirley Jackson – you're in for an unforgettable literary journey that showcases the breadth and depth of her creative genius.

[Anonymous No.22372456]

>>22372413
You’re not me, fuck off.
>>22372403
The Lottery and the one about the castle. Alright, so maybe not a “lotta” Jackson but I remember us spending a fair bit of time with her.
To be honest, I wasn’t into anything we read it class, I mostly liked Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, and American Psycho at the time.

[Anonymous No.22372475]

>>22372456
yeah this guy is using chatgpt or something lol my dumbass thought i was having an actual conversation

[Anonymous No.22372484]

>>22372475
>my dumbass thought i was having an actual conversation
you were having a conversation with chatgpt, and it was an actual conversation

[Anonymous No.22372492]

>>22372188
Lol why you cappin. No way is a Slavic school teaching Don Quixote & the Illiad to 14 year olds.
I tought 10th and 11th grade at some schools in Belarus and Ukraine as a kind of learning credit/charity before grad school. Those niggas at 16 could barely comprehend Harry Potter. You arent reading uni level stuff in middle school, stop lying

[Anonymous No.22372557]

>>22372141
I never read the required reading. My teachers would always get frustrated because I was obviously at a much higher reading level vs my peers, I aced my exams and could easily participate in class discussions, but I just hated being told what to read. So I don't remember every book I was assigned.
Graduated 2005. All I remember was Lord of the Flies because I actually did read it, and Fifth Business because I tried but fucking hated it. I do however remember the poetry and Shakespeare plays better, but I had already read Shakespeare's sonnets on my own in junior high, so obviously me and Billy got along. A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet, in that order. We also had a small unit on Chaucer I quite enjoyed.
In elementary school my favourite assigned book was A Wrinkle In Time. Where the Red Fern Grows and Hatchet were also pretty good. The Giver could fuck off and die, though.

[Anonymous No.22372622]

Your high school made you read 22 books! How the fuck did you have time for that.

[Anonymous No.22372647]

>>22372622
Rarely does a school have students read the entire book. Even when we did Macbeth, the teacher cuts scenes out that “weren’t relevant” to the lesson.

[Anonymous No.22372650]

>>22372622
Back then we actually learned to read and didn't have audio books.

[Anonymous No.22372655]

>>22372647
That's rarely the case, most places you read the whole book, I don't know what shithole you were educated at but you're just wrong

[Anonymous No.22372656]

>>22372647
>>22372622
Thinking back, I'm surprised we read the entirely of Jane Eyre

[Anonymous No.22372670]

Your school taught you how to read? I just learned to shoot pool balls out of my ass in the bathroom. Upper class man would load them up with a poolstick and bam out goes the mirror

[Anonymous No.22372703]

>>22372141
I graduated 2017 from a US public school. I'll list as many as I can remember.
>To Kill A Mockingbird
>Oedipus/Antigone
>R+J
>Into Thin Air
>Jekyll/Hyde (this might have been 8th grade I can't remember)
>Catcher In The Rye
>Song of Solomon
>Ethan Frome
>The Great Gatsby
>Of Mice And Men
>Scarlet Letter
>Things Fall Apart
>Their Eyes Were Watching God
>Beloved
>Madame Bovary
>The Stranger
>The Unbearable Lightness of Being

There was an assortment of short stories too, I don't remember them all. Hills Like White Elephants, the absurdist one about the guy accepting his death before getting executed, some essays. I actually liked a lot of those books. TKaM is great, ITA is gripping, Gatsby/Catcher/OMAM are are obviously really good, classics for a reason. My favorites were the absurdist books, though. Absolutely loathed Ethan Frome, the worst book I've ever read. Hated MB and the Toni Morrison books, too. Some other classes got to read The Things They Carried and Heart of Darkness but my class had to read fucking Ethan Frome. As for MB, I wonder if I might like it more now. I might've just been resistant because I hated my teacher, is it any good? Worth trying again?

On a separate note, I think assigning R+J to teenagers is a mistake. They're practically hardwired to miss the point and most will grow up with a completely incorrect interpretation that they will never reassess.

I read 451 on my own, Bradbury was my favorite author from the ages of like 12-20.

[Anonymous No.22372730]

Why did so many students have to read 1984 when it is clearly portrays the government as the villain?

Unless 1984 was always meant to be demoralization propaganda...which is ironic because the book is often quoted by people who are against Big Brother.

[Anonymous No.22372734]

>>22372141
Russian here. I actually don’t remember shit from my literature lessons even though I’ve probably read more than anyone in my class and my school was not bad. The books that stuck with me for life are short stories ‘The Ghost of Engineers Castle’ by Leskov and ‘The Return’ by Platonov, both very simple stories but they are really great required reading for every teenager.

[Anonymous No.22372744]

>>22372730
>1984 portrays the government as the villain
This is why retards shouldn’t be allowed to read serious fiction

[Anonymous No.22372749]

We only read The Great Gatsby, things fall apart and 1984.

[Anonymous No.22372756]

>>22372744
Okay genius, please enlighten me on how the government isn't the villain in 1984.

[Anonymous No.22372775]

>>22372492
http://mg-babatonka.bg/e107_plugins/content/downloads/literatura_VIII_klas.pdf
https://smg.bg/razni/2020/07/24/3942/cпиcък-cъc-зaдължитeлнa-литepaтypa-з/
Not kidding. These are real schools' official websites with lists of required literature for 14 year olds to read over the summer so that they can study them at school next year. There are some variations (some may include the Bible as well) but the Iliad is material for 14-15 year olds in Bulgaria, whether they can understand it is another matter.

[Anonymous No.22372799]

>>22372744
>>22372756
>no answer

I'll just assume you're a pretentious faggot then.

[Anonymous No.22372801]

>>22372756
It portrays a totalitarian regime as bad, not The Government

[Anonymous No.22372832]

>>22372801

>our government isn't totalitarian
Okay so you're not pretentious, you're just ignorant.

[Anonymous No.22372836]

>>22372832
Cope and seethe!

[Anonymous No.22372848]

>>22372836
I'm really glad you kept talking. Few things are more satisfying than witnessing an arrogant idiot expose himself.

[Anonymous No.22372859]

>>22372848
I’m glad you kept coping!

[Anonymous No.22372865]

>>22372655
Talk to people who’ve graduated after 2012.

[Anonymous No.22372922]

Sweden, 2008:
>The Stranger
>Lord of the Flies
Mostly you just read whatever you wanted, because why make kids hate classics?

[Anonymous No.22373048]

>>22372865
I graduated in 2014 and we read the entirety of the books I listed, except for The Odyssey

[Anonymous No.22373077]

i remember them reading a lot of outdoorsy stuff to us like hatchet, wolf fang, where the red fern grows. Then harry potter dropped in like a bomb.

I graduated in 2009 and this was texas

[Anonymous No.22373295]

>>22372141
To Kill a Mockingbird
Alas Babylon
Romeo and Juliet
The Odyssey
Of Mice and Men
Julius Caesar
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Hamlet
Excerpts from The Canterbury Tales
Macbeth

I graduated in 2005. There may have been one or two more books, but I can't remember.