This unit explores the ways in which literature historically and presently shapes and reflects society. It explores the formation and attributes of a Christian worldview and how these compare and contrast with other dominant worldviews. It encourages students to engage with texts through the reading of short stories and poems and a chosen classic novel. Students explore the different facets of literary analysis: mood, matter, style, plot, use of metaphor, point of view, and archetypes as literary devices/forms. The influence of worldview and context on the composition and interpretation of a literary text is discussed and how a Christian worldview can be outworked. Students are given instruction on, and are required to demonstrate, the fundamentals and conventions of good academic writing. Topics: – What is literature and the contribution of literature to the Western world – What is worldview? – The Christian worldview and the problem of dualism – Other worldviews – modernism, existentialism, postmodernism, consumerism – How and why Christians should read literature – Literary analysis – engaging with the text, the importance of context – Analysing literature from a Christian worldview – Literary devices: genre, plot, setting, mood, tone, archetypes, style, metaphor, point of view etc – Authorial intent and reader-response theory – Genres: Drama, poetry, fiction novel – Elements of sound academic writing