Introducing Youngsters to Medieval Classics

Hello!

In a previous blog post, I shared with you some of my favorite titles for introducing pieces of ancient literature to younger readers. As we talked about before works like Homer's Iliad and The Gallic Wars by Julius Casear can be intimidating and overwhelming when approached for the first time. Thankfully there are wonderful adaptions available for parents and teachers who want to expose their children and students to these works before high school and college. Today I am going to list some of my favorite adaptations of medieval works. By making your children familiar with the works of Chaucer, Shakespeare and other great writers you are giving them excellent tools for understanding the original works later on. Let's get started:

One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean

McCaughrean's adaptations of the fantastical Arabian nights stories opens a world of intrigue and adventure to readers aged 10 and up. Based on stories from Persia, India, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Middle East your student will learn about the courageous and clever Shahrazad who says off a death sentence with her fantastical stories. You'll hear about the adventures of Sinbad and Ali Baba and Aladdin. Dating from the 10th Century, these stories offer a window into the world of the medieval Middle East, telling much about the beliefs of the people who valued these tales. McCaughrean's version eliminates some of the more sensual stories, favoring those appropriate for youngsters. 

Beowulf adapted by Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Michael Foreman 

Not only is this adaptation of the oldest English epic poem beautifully written, its illustrations communicate all the drama and color of this exciting tale. Students will learn of the brave and young Beowulf and his battle against the hideous terror Grendel. Preserving much of the lyrical quality of the original, Morpurgo's version is engaging, fun, and expertly crafted. Appropriate for ages 8 and up. Some of the illustrations do portray bloodshed so it may be worth previewing the title for your children. 

Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, adapted by Barbara Cohen and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

It can rightly be said that it is thanks to Geoffrey Chaucer that the English language enjoys the prominence is does today. Chaucer took a language formerly thought of as vulgar and common and elevated it to a literary level. His tales are part of our language heritage as are many of the words we commonly use. Chaucer invented about 2000 English words! But many parents and teacher have resisted teaching Chaucer due to the fact that many of his tales are crude and contain material inappropriate for children. Thanks to Barbara Cohen's wonderful version of several of the Canterbury Tales young people can now enjoy the funny and lively stories. The book includes The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Pardoner's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale as well as The Franklin's Tale. These tales give life and color to medieval England and are wonderfully entertaining. I remember reading these stories and pouring over the details of Trina Schart Hyman's gorgeous illustrations. This book even accompanied me to college where I would refer to it when I ran into confusion reading the originals! This version is only available in hardback and is pricey but BFB is offering it for a discount here. 

Chanticleer and the Fox by Geoffrey Chaucer, adapted and illustrated by Barbara Cooney

One of Chaucer's most famous stories is that of the proud rooster Chanticleer. Cooney turns this wise tale into a wonderful children's book appropriate for little ones 5 and up. Her illustrations of the cocky cock and foxy fox earned her a Caldecott medal and make this a modern classic. 

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green 

Another English classic these tales are firmly established in the lexicon of western folklore. The stories of the sword in the stone, brave Sir Galahad, Lancelot, the Holy Grail–they're all familiar to us but many have not actually read the stories based on Thomas Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur and other medieval classics. Roger Lancelyn Green's well-loved version preserves the frantic pace and neck-break randomness of the stories while providing readers with all the intrigue of the dark and foreboding forests of England. A must for all who are interested in medieval literature. 

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb

Undoubtedly the best-know and best-loved adaptation of Shakespeare's writings, the Lamb's version is a classic in and of itself. Originally published in 1807 this book has been introducing young readers to the joys of Shakespeare for over 200 years! Preserving the intricate plot-lines, brilliant characterization, and insight into the human condition that makes Shakespeare so great, this is the best resource for introducing the Bard to your students and children. It is even an excellent tool for getting more out of the original versions! Students will be able to read 21 of Shakespeare's greatest plays in prose without having to worry about keeping lines and characters straight. If you have never read Shakespeare yourself, read this first. It makes the originals so much more accessible!  

I hope you find this list helpful! I would love to hear about any adaptations you've particularly enjoyed or stories of using these resources to help open up the world of medieval literature to your children. 

Introducing Youngsters to the Ancient Classics

Shakespeare, Chaucer, Homer, Virgil. All these names make the hearts of English majors like me beat a bit faster. I love reading the greats but when it comes to introducing these masters to children, my heart beats a bit faster with anxiety. Introducing classic literature to children is a bit of a balancing act. On one hand you want to challenge your children but how do you do this without overwhelming them with stories that are complex, intricate, and dense? Can you encourage a child to fall in love with advanced stories without overwhelming them with too much detail? That problem is one of the challenges of using a literature approach to teaching. But, the good news is that there are extremely talented authors who have brilliantly adapted some of the most famous stories from these authors and made them approachable for young children. While some may decry the use of adaptations, I have found that they are wonderful tools in that these simplified versions allow you to introduce classic works to students at a young age. This creates a curiosity about the original and prepares them to read the original works. It breeds a familiarity with plot and character that enables them to delve into the complexities of the original works when they reach an appropriate age. So, today, I want to share with you some of my favorite adaptations of the classics.

The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum

Taking the works of that great original storyteller, Homer, Padraic Colum has adapted the stories of Iliad and the Odyssey into an accessible format while maintaining the lyrical integrity of the original text. The drama of Odysseus epic journey, the intrigue of the cunning gods and goddesses of Greek mythology, the clanging battles, it all come alive in this excellent adaptation. The book also benefits from lovely line sketches by Willy Pogany, as seen below.

Geared for students in 5-8th grade, this will provide an exceptional introduction to the greatest classic epic!

The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles by Padraic Colum

Another Padraic Colum classic, also illustrated by Willy Pogany, this adaptation relates the adventures of Greek hero Jason. Padraic takes on this classic of Greek mythology and relates all the wonder and strangeness of this storied world. The tales offer an introduction to the pantheon of Greek mythical figures from Hercules to Orpheus to Theseus. Aimed at readers in 5th-8th grade. 

Gilgamesh the Hero adapted by Geraldine McCaughrean

Taking the oldest recorded story in the world, Geraldine McCaughrean's version is a free adaptation from a variety of translations and it preserves the intrigue and adventure that make this work so well-loved. The work was originally carved on twelve stone tablets which, over thousands of years, were smashed into thousands of shards. Even now, for all the painstaking work of restoration, different scholars place the events of the story in different orders, and some episodes are still lost. Gilgamesh is thought to have been a real king reigning sometime between 3200BC and 2700BC over the Sumerian city of Uruk, in Mesopotamia (now Iraq). He led expeditions into neighboring territories, to fetch back timber for his grand building projects. The story of the Flood - several floods devastated the region - found its way into other cultures, ultimately into the Bible, undergoing changes according to the religion of the teller. The work of archaeology is incomplete; some of the tile fragments still baffle interpreters. This edition makes the work accessible to readers over the age of 10 years and if you would like further information on interpretation, check out our study guide for teaching the work using a Charlotte Mason approach. 

Caesar's Gallic Wars by Olivia Coolidge

The original war diaries of Julius Caesar are a historian's treasure trove. They contain details of war, everyday life, Roman social order, and much more. But, for a young reader they can be quite dense so Olivia Coolidge's brilliant version brings the richness of detail to life for intermediate readers. Using the original diaries as her guide, she writes her version from the perspective of a young soldier serving Caesar in his quest for European domination. While much easier to read than the original, this is best for readers over the age of 10 or 11.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

This has become a classic in its own right and I cannot think of a better way to introduce the complex world of Greek mythology to middle schoolers. Vibrantly illustrated, I remember spending hours pouring over these strange, intriguing, and fascinating stories. Greek mythology is a complex science and this book provides access into the imaginative world, provides a window into the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, and is just plain entertaining. 

I hope this provides a useful guide to some of the best adaptations of ancient classics. In the near future I will write a post on my favorite children's versions of more recent texts such as Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Shakespeare's tragic plays.