One of the differences in most Charlotte Mason curriculums is that they study Plutarch. Who? Right, I had never heard of him before I found Mason either. But, this post will give you some basics and how to teach this new subject.
Plutarch was a Greek historian and biographer who lived during the first century AD, Plutarch provides valuable insights into the lives of prominent figures from ancient Greece and Rome; helping us to understand their motivations, actions, and legacies. Many of his biographies contain moral teachings that can be applied to modern life. By studying these stories, we can learn important values such as courage, integrity, and wisdom.
As an author, Plutarch has had a lasting impact on literature and historical writing. His biographies have been used as sources by later writers such as William Shakespeare, who drew inspiration from his work for plays like "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra." Plutarch's writings offer a window into the customs, beliefs, and social structures of ancient societies. Studying his work helps us appreciate the diversity of human history and understand how various cultures have shaped our world today. Utilizing Charlotte Mason’s principles, the importance of engaging with living books that bring history to life are emphasized. Plutarch is a wonderful example of this approach, as they provide a rich source of material for students to learn from and discuss in depth.
Now, you may be saying, great, but how do I teach that? Here’s some tips to get you started!
To teach Plutarch according to Charlotte Mason's principles:
Plutarch study generally begins in Year 5, select a Life (as they are called) Anne White’s Plutarch Project are great because they help with the vocabulary and discussion. Also, Plutarch's work is intended to be examined by studying two parallel lives each year for the purpose of comparison.
Recap the previous lesson. Set the scene and go over any vocabulary that will be new. Using a historical atlas, find the mentioned locations. Read a small portion of the biography that will allow time for discussion and reflection on the content.
After reading the passage, ask the child to narrate what they understood from it in their own words. This helps them process the information and internalize the ideas presented by Plutarch. Plutarch can be difficult at first, give you and your child grace and if the typical size passage is too much, read a smaller passage and work to longer passages.
Introducing other works related to history or biographies of different historical figures will help broaden the child's understanding of various cultures, time periods, and perspectives.
Encourage the child to observe and analyze the world around them, drawing connections between their experiences and what they learn from Plutarch. The discussion should evaluate the men's actions honestly and objectively, once the students can use discernment, they will be able to current events and leaders as well.
If possible, read the biographies aloud to your child, as this can help create a more engaging learning environment and encourage active listening, especially when Plutarch's writings are difficult, also you may want to pre-read to be prepared for the lesson and make any omissions that are necessary.
In summary, studying Plutarch is important because it offers valuable insights into historical events, moral teachings, cultural understanding, literary influence, and educational principles that can be applied to modern learning experiences. Hopefully this post gave you some insights.
I do appreciate that this is studied in our co-op, it’s more fun in a group as the children can discuss their thoughts and discuss viewpoints in a civil manner, which is an asset all in itself.
**As a note, if you have a younger student you'd like to start the path to Plutarch, Aesop's Fables or D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths is a great place to start and for Year 4, the Stories From the History of Rome is a frequent choice.