Cultural Literacy "spin-off"

[Rebecca]

I read the thread on Aesop's Fables and the comments regarding their importance for cultural literacy. I was wondering if anyone could list any other resources that are considered necessary for cultural literacy. I think I read somewhere that Mother Goose Rhymes were also considered important - that being ONE of the reasons.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Rebecca

[cajun.classical]

Ed Hirsch wrote a book called A Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. This book will have everything an educated person should know in a variety of subjects.

[Closeacademy]

Typically it is literature, history, science, mathematics etc that you may find references to in other pieces of literature or even in the world around you like on TV or in music.

Some things that you may want to know about:

Mother Goose
Fairy Tales
Aesop's Fables
Stories about some of the more well-known Saints
Stories from the Old and New Testament
Who the Greek Gods were
You may want to have some knowledge of the Argonauts, the Illiad, the Odyssey and read some of the major Greek playwrights.
Who the major players in Roman history were
Beowulf
Chaucer
Shakespeare
and the list goes on.

You may want to check out a great books list and also the Cultural Literacy book or even the graded books Everything your ____ Needs to Know by Hirsch which you can probably pick up at your local library.

Hope this helps.:)

[mcconnellboys]

Yes, nursery rhymes are included. E.D. Hirsch's book series, What Your ___ Grader Needs to Know, includes a section on cultural literacy for each year of school. These include wise sayings, various proverbs, rhymes, etc.

Regena

[KarenNC]

Here's a site that includes some tests for cultural literacy that might be fun

http://www.readfaster.com/culturalliteracy.asp

Note that they are not all totally correct. In the Mythology I test, for example, they say that Aphrodite was the Greek Goddess of erotic love and marriage, but Hera was actually the one of marriage. I am not 100% sure about Venus in Roman mythology (the two systems overlapped a great deal, but there were some differences that tend to be glossed over).

[DIY-DY]

Ed Hirsch wrote a book called A Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. This book will have everything an educated person should know in a variety of subjects.

We rec'd both for Christmas one year, and we have so enjoyed them thus far! An excellent resource, and even for us grown-ups, it's spawned some truly fun discussions. :)

[KAR120C]

Now you see when I hear "cultural literacy" I immediately think classic sitcoms, movies, and music. :p So a culturally literate child (well okay maybe teenager... LOL) should know who Bob Newhart, Mrs. Robinson and "John, Paul, George and Ringo" are... and of the last four, which of them are really talented. Then your final exam is to watch ten episodes of the Simpsons. If you get all the references you get an A. Bonus points for episode #254 :D

giggle *snort*

But I promise we read Mother Goose and Aesop's Fables, Greek myths, and Shakespeare too.... I would also include traditional songs in the cultural literacy list -- patriotic, relgious, traditional, etc.

[Luanne]

My 19 year old daughter says EVERYONE should know who "John, Paul, George, and Ringo" are. LOL

[angela in ohio]

Everything Christy said, plus:

American presidents
American tall tales