You don’t have to sit down long with a piece of classic literature to realize that your vocabulary is more limited than you think.  The wordsmiths of the literature world weave a wide variety of English into their works, and often they aren’t always words that we come in contact with in daily conversation.  That’s why classic literature is a treasure trove of source material for vocabulary study.

Spelling City is full of lists that could be used to increase both vocabulary and spelling power.  Here are some great lists, broken down by grade level, for some of the most popular literary classics:

Elementary Lists for Classic Literature

• The Velveteen Rabbit
• Alice in Wonderland
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• A Bear Called Paddington
• Goodnight Moon
• Ginger Pye
• Wind in the Willows
• Ben and Me
• Make Way for Ducklings
• Anne of Green Gables

Jr High Lists for Classic Literature

• Little Women
• The Last of the Mohicans
• Robinson Crusoe’
• A Christmas Carol
• The Count of Monte Cristo
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
• A Wrinkle in Time
• Call of the Wild
• Diary of Anne Frank
• Hunchback of Notre Dame