“Comprehensibleantiquity is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to http://www.amazon.com. Some links in the following post are affiliate links. When you click on such affiliate links, Comprehensibleantiquity may earn a commission on follow up purchases from Amazon.”
Other Level B readers:
Mercurius Omnia Furatur by John Foulk explores the god Mercury as a child growing up. I have observed this as a popular title with students in Latin II. The title combines simple repetition with just enough novelty through expanded vocabulary to engage an established novice level reader’s interest. When students ask questions about the text, they often understand but desire confirmation that their understanding is accurate to the text.
A student will have multiple reps around childhood and family words. Filius, puer, pater and mater routinely show up in chapter 1. Mercury’s actions are speaking, singing, stealing and going to and from multiple places. Students have multiple repetitions with loqui, canere, furari, ambulare, ire and venire. Because Mercury wants and is able to do things often, students encounter complementary infinitives often throughout events in the present tense. Velle and posse are scattered throughout to demonstrate Mercury’s mindset and abilities.
Along the way, readers meet Jupiter, Maia, Apollo, and many of the Olympian deities. Because these interactions are based in Mercury’s life, these introductions allow a reader with little exposure to the major Olympian deities an opportunity to learn as characters necessary to the plot. A student who brings knowledge of these deities will see them through a perspective centered around Mercury. This balance keeps comprehension in focus while offering slight novelty to both types of readers.
Students view Mercurius Omnia Furatur by John Foulk as playful and active. I often hear laughter and gasps as students progress through the title. This title is a strong addition to novice level reading choices.
Comprehensible Antiquity 