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fandomhigh2009-01-08 12:20 am
clevermsbennet.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2009-01-08 12:20 am
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Literature, Class 1: Period 3, Thursday, January 8
Miss Elizabeth Bennet was somewhat surprised, by how quickly life fell into patterns, and the unusual came to be routine. In the weeks she had been away from Fandom, she had missed teaching, had missed the interactions and discussions. It was quite good to be back.
"Welcome to class," she smiled. "My name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and I am to be your literature teacher this semester."
"We shall start class today with a question," she continued, seating herself on the edge of her desk and smiling at the new faces. "It's a simple one. 'Why Literature?' But for all its simplicity, it can be taken in many directions.
"First, why should I be teaching you literature? I readily confess, as I did last term, that I am far from being an expert upon the subject. I was accused once of being a great reader, who cared little for anything else," and her eyes twinkled with amusement, at that, "but that was idle gossip, and I assure you, it isn't the case. However, I do care greatly for books, and perhaps that's more important: having a passion for the subject. Scholars may get lost in themes and theoreticals that the average reader may never notice consciously. It is possible to be too detached from the work, perhaps; discussing the meter of a poem at length and never once touching on how that meter, in turn, amplifies the emotional thrust of the work. It is a moot point, however. I am no scholar, but I am indeed the person that will be teaching class, and I have at least one term more experience than I could profess, the last time I spoke to a classroom. We will make do as best we can.
She glanced around the room again. "So then, why is literature important? I will tell you my thoughts. Literature is nothing more than the stories that we tell to one another. Books resonate with us, as individuals. A good story can tell you things about the world or life or humanity that you hadn't quite realized before. A well-written character can seem so real that you wish for nothing more than an afternoon to take tea with him -- or to call him unpleasant names. Literature can inform us, can move us, can allow us to escape our lives and step into someone else's, for a while. Someone's taste in books is very telling, I've found. It's hard to think ill of someone who likes many of the works one does. Conversely, if a friend for whom you care deeply is unmoved by your favourite story, one might feel disappointed. Opinions on such matters can be terribly personal, I'm afraid."
"There is one last version of today's question." Eliza smiled around the room, hoping to catch the students' eyes. "Why literature, for each of you? What inspired you to sign up for this class? What do you wish to learn, or discuss? Furthermore, what do you read, in your leisure time, if anything? Why those works, above all others?"
"I assure you," she continued calmly, "there are no incorrect answers. If you read adventure stories because you get a thrill when pirates take the high seas, if you read gothic romance to swoon over the brave gentleman as he woos his lady, if you read the Holy Bible to immerse yourself in the Lord's Will, whatever you read, what matters is that you connect with it. I will state that there was an unfortunate incident, in the last class, where I made myself into a liar on this point, which is unacceptable on my part so now I shall attempt to make the matter slightly more clear. If your favourite subject matter is ... something which is thoroughly inappropriate for a classroom, that is perfectly fine as well, and does not constitute an 'incorrect' answer -- but I ask that you refrain from elaborating on the matter, if only to humour your rather old-fashioned instructor."
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but her eyes were twinkling with amusement. "It is very possible that some of you may not read at all, either for lack of time or because you simply haven't the ability. Pray do not feel disheartened, if that is the case. Ladies in my society were encouraged to be accomplished, but none received proper schooling; in fact, my sisters and I had no governess, and had to educate ourselves in all matters. It was then that I discovered how greatly I enjoyed reading. It is my great hope that some of you may do the same. If I am moving too quickly over theoretical matters, or if I am failing to explain properly, please do tell me, at once. As I have said, I am not trained in educational matters, and if we are not communicating properly, the fault is mine, and not yours. I will rectify it as quickly as may be possible."
"One last matter: in the previous semester, I had two young gentlemen offer to be my assistants, and their aid was invaluable. If any of you are similarly inclined to provide assistance, please do speak with me after class. For now, let us being by introducing ourselves. Shall we?"
"Welcome to class," she smiled. "My name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and I am to be your literature teacher this semester."
"We shall start class today with a question," she continued, seating herself on the edge of her desk and smiling at the new faces. "It's a simple one. 'Why Literature?' But for all its simplicity, it can be taken in many directions.
"First, why should I be teaching you literature? I readily confess, as I did last term, that I am far from being an expert upon the subject. I was accused once of being a great reader, who cared little for anything else," and her eyes twinkled with amusement, at that, "but that was idle gossip, and I assure you, it isn't the case. However, I do care greatly for books, and perhaps that's more important: having a passion for the subject. Scholars may get lost in themes and theoreticals that the average reader may never notice consciously. It is possible to be too detached from the work, perhaps; discussing the meter of a poem at length and never once touching on how that meter, in turn, amplifies the emotional thrust of the work. It is a moot point, however. I am no scholar, but I am indeed the person that will be teaching class, and I have at least one term more experience than I could profess, the last time I spoke to a classroom. We will make do as best we can.
She glanced around the room again. "So then, why is literature important? I will tell you my thoughts. Literature is nothing more than the stories that we tell to one another. Books resonate with us, as individuals. A good story can tell you things about the world or life or humanity that you hadn't quite realized before. A well-written character can seem so real that you wish for nothing more than an afternoon to take tea with him -- or to call him unpleasant names. Literature can inform us, can move us, can allow us to escape our lives and step into someone else's, for a while. Someone's taste in books is very telling, I've found. It's hard to think ill of someone who likes many of the works one does. Conversely, if a friend for whom you care deeply is unmoved by your favourite story, one might feel disappointed. Opinions on such matters can be terribly personal, I'm afraid."
"There is one last version of today's question." Eliza smiled around the room, hoping to catch the students' eyes. "Why literature, for each of you? What inspired you to sign up for this class? What do you wish to learn, or discuss? Furthermore, what do you read, in your leisure time, if anything? Why those works, above all others?"
"I assure you," she continued calmly, "there are no incorrect answers. If you read adventure stories because you get a thrill when pirates take the high seas, if you read gothic romance to swoon over the brave gentleman as he woos his lady, if you read the Holy Bible to immerse yourself in the Lord's Will, whatever you read, what matters is that you connect with it. I will state that there was an unfortunate incident, in the last class, where I made myself into a liar on this point, which is unacceptable on my part so now I shall attempt to make the matter slightly more clear. If your favourite subject matter is ... something which is thoroughly inappropriate for a classroom, that is perfectly fine as well, and does not constitute an 'incorrect' answer -- but I ask that you refrain from elaborating on the matter, if only to humour your rather old-fashioned instructor."
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but her eyes were twinkling with amusement. "It is very possible that some of you may not read at all, either for lack of time or because you simply haven't the ability. Pray do not feel disheartened, if that is the case. Ladies in my society were encouraged to be accomplished, but none received proper schooling; in fact, my sisters and I had no governess, and had to educate ourselves in all matters. It was then that I discovered how greatly I enjoyed reading. It is my great hope that some of you may do the same. If I am moving too quickly over theoretical matters, or if I am failing to explain properly, please do tell me, at once. As I have said, I am not trained in educational matters, and if we are not communicating properly, the fault is mine, and not yours. I will rectify it as quickly as may be possible."
"One last matter: in the previous semester, I had two young gentlemen offer to be my assistants, and their aid was invaluable. If any of you are similarly inclined to provide assistance, please do speak with me after class. For now, let us being by introducing ourselves. Shall we?"
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