With supportive guidelines for Key Stages 2 and 3 this book offers active approaches for teaching pre-twentieth century literature with confidence. Key texts including The Odyssey, Hamlet and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner are explained in a very practical and accessible way. This text allows for creativity amongst pupils at the same time as improving their reading and writing abilities within the literacy strategy objectives and KS3 English framework guidelines.

The author looks to develop an active pedagogy that encompasses the literacy strategy, the KS3 English framework and the creative arts. Using case studies from primary and secondary school projects a series of lessons are proposed for each year group from Year 4 though to Year 8. The lessons cover poetry, drama, story and the novel.