Mike McCartney taught English and History for almost twenty years, working mostly with gifted and talented students. Mike received his MA in English Literature from Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English and studied as an independent scholar at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies in Oxford. During his formal teaching career, he served as Chair of English and Performing Arts at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, one of the top public schools in America. While there, he was a Semifinalist for Maine State Teacher of the Year and a frequent guest speaker around Maine, including addressing pre-service teachers at the University of Maine. He has been published in Independent Teacher Magazine and Mythprint. During the day, Mike can be found at the Eldredge Public Library in Chatham.
Programs
Canterbury Confidential
Perhaps one of the most influential authors in all of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales have left an indelible mark on our language and our storytelling - but many of us haven't had the opportunity to spend some time with the man who defied and defined conventions. We'll take a peek at his life - as the son of a vintner who may have been a spy but certainly married above his station and had a granddaughter who was a duchess - and at his masterpiece.
Quests
Like numbers to mathematics and science and like letters to language, storytelling has its own fundamental building blocks. The Hero. The Wise Old Man. The Fool. The Everyman. The Innocent. These and so many more exist in every story, from its most simple to its most complex. And even more than that, they exist with us, too. We'll spend a little bit of time looking at a few familiar fairytales and folktales as examples, but we'll also be applying our lessons to your favorite stories, too!
Legends About King Arthur
Few stories have captivated us like the Tales of King Arthur. Adapted, readapted, and added to since their inception, these stories are at the bedrock of English storytelling tradition and, arguably, some of the earliest examples of "fan fiction." But where do they come from? What shaped them? And how have characters like Merlin, Guenivere, Lancelot, and Morgan Le Fay changed over the past thousand years? What forces shaped them as they, in their turn, have shaped us?
The Evolution of the British Mystery Novel
Keep your wits about you for this course! Mike will guide you through the history of one of literature's most popular subgenres: The British Mystery Novel! We'll look with particular care at the most popular of the so-called "Golden Age'' characters, including Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Dorothy Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey, and, of course, Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Along the way, we'll examine how the genre grew out of the Gothic Novel, what each author's specific flair brought to the form, and why these novels continue to be so beloved today.
Daily Life in Medieval England
Step in your time machine of choice and journey back to 14th century England. Pack your curiosity and questions about topics ranging from food and drink to clothes to games to education. In this course we'll look at some of the astonishing similarities we have with the folks of the high middle ages - as well as some of the startling differences!
The Growth of Modern Fantasy
At the beginning of the 20th century, fantasy was regarded as stories for children. Today, fantasy is one of the dominant genres across storytelling media. Together, we’ll trace the journey out of the Black Forest with the Brothers Grimm to Lord Dunsany’s Elfland and into the familiar tracks of Narnia, Middle Earth, and beyond. Why has this genre grown as it has and is Ursula LeGuin still right? Are Americans still afraid of dragons?
Programs start at $250
Custom Programs
The programs listed above are just a sample of the topics available. If you have other interests, please contact Mike to discuss further!