Contest Format

Participants are invited to submit a short-form essay on the below theme related to Western literature. Submissions will be evaluated and scored by a panel of literary scholars, educators, and authors.

Theme

"Echoes of the Classics - Lessons from the Great Books"

Choose a work from classical Western literature (e.g., Aesop’s Fables, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little Women, Treasure Island, The Secret Garden, The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, Shakespeare’s plays, etc.) and write an original essay that reflects on how the work has influenced your understanding of human nature, moral challenges, or timeless virtues. You should connect a specific theme or lesson from the classic text to your own life or modern society.

Submission Guidelines

Length: 800-1200 words.

Writing Style: Submissions must be formal, well-researched, and exhibit originality and intellectual rigor.

Eligibility: Open to students ages 11-18 from around the world.

Division: Enter the division based on your age at the time of entry:

• Junior Division: Age 11-14 years

• Senior Division: Age 15-18 years

Judging Criteria: Depth of analysis, originality, relevance, and clarity.

AI Policy: AI-generated content is prohibited and will be checked for originality.

How to Submit: To complete your submission, please email your essay to us in WORD format. Name the document according to the division you are applying for:

• ​Junior Division applicants: DantePrize_JuniorDiv_FIRST NAME LAST NAME

• Senior Division applicants: DantePrize_SeniorDiv_FIRST NAME LAST NAME

Email your essay to: juniorclassicsleague@outlook.com.

Prizes

All submissions will receive a score based on the criteria above.

All finalists will be eligible for Gold/Silver/Bronze medals based on their scores. All scoring and prize decisions are final.

All contestants who submit their essays will receive a certificate of completion.