The Little Inklings is a literary discussion group for 9-12th grade students.  The purpose of this group is to allow students to engage quality literature as well as the broader fine arts with the goal of cultivating the human spirit through normative inquiry.  The group is named in honor of The Inklings, a famous informal literary group at the University of Oxford.  The Inklings included notable persons such as  C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.  The group size is limited to 12 students and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis each year.  The group is led by Dr. Tarpley and Mr. Dakwar.

7th Annual Colloquy (2023-2024)
​"​A Year with Wendell Berry" 

Please note:  If you are interested in joining the Literary Society, please email Dr. Tarpley (marktarpley@clps.info).

Selected Reading:  Selected Poems, Short Stories, and Essays
Fall Schedule:
  • Wednesday, September 13th (11:35 - 12:00 pm)
  • Monday, September 25th (11:35 - 12:00 pm) 
  • Wednesday, October 4th (11:35 - 12:00 pm)
  • Monday, October 30th (11:35 - 12:00 pm) 
  • Monday, November 13th (11:35 - 12:00 pm) 
  • Monday, December 11th (11:35 - 12:00 pm)
  • Tuesday, December 19th - "An Evening with Charles Dickens" hosted at the Tarpley Home (6 - 9 pm)​​

Summer 2023 "Dessert and Discussion" Reading Group 

Selected Readings:  The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis, Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott, and Remembering by Wendell Berry
First Summer Gathering:  Tuesday, June 27th from 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Books for Discussion:  The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis (We will complete the second half of the book that was begun during the school year.) and Flatland by Edwin A. Abbot (C. S. Lewis offered high praise for this work.)

Second Summer Gathering:  Friday, July 21st from 6:30 -9:00 pm
Book for Discussion:  Remembering by Wendell Berry

*All gatherings will be at Dr. Tarpley's Home.

6th Annual Colloquy (2022-2023)
​"​An Inquiry Into What It Means to be Human" 

Please note:  This Year's Colloquy is Full.

Selected Reading:  The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis

2nd Annual Alumni Colloquy (2022-2023)

  • Fall Alumni Colloquy:  Sunday, October 23rd from 8:00 - 9:30 pm
  • Spring Alumni Colloquy: Sunday, March 26th from 8:00 - 9:30 pm​​

Summer 2022 "Dessert and Discussion" Reading Group 

Selected Readings:  The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
First Summer Gathering:  Wednesday, June 22nd from 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Book for Discussion:  The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Second Summer Gathering:  Thursday, July 28th from 6:30 -9:00 pm
Book for Discussion:  The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

*All gatherings will be at Dr. Tarpley's Home.

5th Annual Colloquy (2022-2023)
​"​A Year with G. K. Chesterton" 

Please note:  This Year's Colloquy is Full.

Selected Readings:  Selected Letters and Essays by G. K. Chesterton (Readings will be distributed directly to students.)​

1st Annual Alumni Colloquy (2021-2022)

  • Fall Alumni Colloquy:  Sunday, October 24th from 8:00 - 9:30 pm
  • Spring Alumni Colloquy: Sunday, March 20th from 8:00 - 9:30 pm​

Summer 2021 "Dessert and Discussion" Reading Group 

Selected Readings:  Prince Caspian and The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
First Summer Gathering:  Friday, June 25th from 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Book for Discussion:  Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis

Second Summer Gathering:  Sunday, August 1st from 6:30 -9:00 pm
Book for Discussion:  The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis

*All gatherings will be at Dr. Tarpley's Home.

4th Annual Colloquy (2020-2021)
​"Science and Scientism in the Thought of C. S. Lewis" 

Please note:  This Year's Colloquy is Full.

Selected Readings (10th - 12th):  Selected Essays by and on C. S. Lewis (Readings will be distributed directly to students.)
Selected Reading (7th - 9th):  The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (Students will need to secure their own copy.)

Summer 2020 "Dessert and Discussion" Reading Group 

Selected Readings:  Hard Times by Charles Dickens and The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton
First Summer Gathering:  Friday, June 26th from 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Book for Discussion:  Hard Times by Charles Dickens

Second Summer Gathering:  Thursday, July 23rd from 6:30 -9:00 pm
Book for Discussion:  The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton

*All gatherings will be at Dr. Tarpley's Home.

3rd Annual Colloquy (2019-2020)
​"An Inquiry Into What It Means to be Human"

Please note:  This Year's Colloquy is Full.

 
Selected Readings (10th - 12th):  The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis and One Man's Meat by E. B. White
Selected Readings (7th - 9th):  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Summer 2019 "Dessert and Discussion" Reading Group 

Selected Readings:  The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
First Summer Gathering:  Monday, June 17th from 7-9 pm
Book for Discussion:  The Death of Ivan Ilyich (ilyich) by Leo Tolstoy

Second Summer Gathering:  Friday, July 26th from 7-9 pm
Book for Discussion:  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

*All gatherings will be at Dr. Tarpley's Home.

2nd Annual Colloquy (2018-2019)
​"Freedom in the Face of Despotism and Amusement"

Please note:  This Year's Colloquy is Full.

Selected Readings:  Animal Farm by George Orwell and Amusing Ourselves to Death:  Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman 

1st Annual Colloquy (2017-2018)
​"C. S. Lewis and Education"

Please note:  This Year's Colloquy is Full.

Selected Reading:  The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis