Perseus’ Shield: Moral Formation and Great Books
- Breakout Session
- Mount Hope Church Classroom 7
- May 15 2026 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
In the myth of Perseus, the hero survives Medusa by looking at her reflection in a polished shield rather than staring directly at danger. Charlotte Mason believed great literature serves a similar purpose. Through story, children encounter courage, folly, sacrifice, beauty, and truth at a fitting distance. Imagination becomes the means by which moral judgment is gently formed. This workshop explores how carefully chosen books shape a child’s inner life—not through moralizing, but through living ideas. Drawing on authors Mason commended, we will consider how stories nourish discernment, strengthen affections, and enlarge the moral imagination. Sheila Carroll brings more than twenty-five years of homeschooling experience to this conversation. With both philosophical clarity and practical application, she will offer guidance on selecting and using great books to foster thoughtful, resilient, and well-formed young people. Participants will leave with renewed confidence in the power of story and a clearer vision for cultivating moral formation through literature.
