The Treasure Trove of Poetry: And the Art of Understanding It is a year-long literature course for Catholic students in grades eight through ten. The course consists of a 466-page spiral-bound worktext and a 405-page anthology with all of the readings. The student worktext is used for every lesson although students do not always write in it. At the back of the worktext is an answer key for the questions that have predictable answers.
The course teaches more than traditional poetry. Divided into three parts, the first is dedicated to the study of several classic poems by authors such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Robert Frost, and Emily Dickinson. Part 2 is a study of the epic poem, The Ballad of the White Horse by G.K. Chesterton, a story of King Alfred's defense of ninth-century England against the Danes. Part 3: How to Read Shakespeare guides students through the study of 20 excerpts from Shakespeare's plays. Like the worktext, The Treasure Trove of Poetry Anthology is divided into the same three parts. It includes copious footnotes that enhance students' understanding of the readings.
Each of the three parts of the worktext has 55 lessons, and the design of the lessons varies to suit the lesson content. The course is a fairly sophisticated study of the structure of poems and poetic devices, such as rhyme schemes, meter, organization, patterns (in sounds, meaning, imagery, etc.), and poetic elements such as alliteration and metaphors. It pays equal attention to deciphering their meaning—the literal and other layers of meaning embedded within poems. Students are to create their own poetry journal where they will copy poems, write their own notes or questions, and maybe illustrate them. Every week, they will also memorize and recite a poem or an excerpt from the ballad or Shakespeare's plays. Students will compose their own poems and recite them at the end of the first part.
After students have learned to analyze poems, Part 1 switches to a historical study of poetry under the headings Biblical poetry, Greek and Latin Poetry, Medieval Poetry, Early Modern Poetry, Romanticism, and Poetry in the Modern Era. Students will analyze, memorize, and recite poems representative of the different eras.
The study of "The Ballad of the White Horse" in Part 2 includes excursions into history, philosophy, Celtic culture, and character studies as students apply what they learned in Part 1. Vocabulary work is included in all except the Discussion & Activities lessons. As a final project for Part 2, students illustrate the ballad in the style of the Bayeux Tapestry.
Part 3 teaches two excerpts from Shakespeare's plays per week—two days per excerpt. The introduction to each excerpt provides some context so students understand what is going on. This section of the course is a great introduction to Shakespeare since it gives students a taste of the various types of plays, from comedy to tragedy, and highlights some of the best passages.
Throughout all three parts, every fifth lesson is headed "Discussion & Activities." These lessons have discussion questions, time for recitations, journal assignments, upcoming memorization assignments, and a list of recommended activities. The recommended activities involve games, artwork, crafts, writing, research, reading, food, music, and playacting.
Summary
The Treasure Trove of Poetry does an excellent job of teaching the mechanics of poetry, skills for analysis, and appreciation of many classic works. The skills learned here also apply to broader literary appreciation and understanding, while simultaneously improving students' writing skills.
