Fear in Literature, Tuesday 4th period

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Today's board, when the students arrived, said: The Desolation: Fear of pain, loss, burning, and destruction, especially pointless destruction.

"I hope you enjoyed this week's story," Jon said to them. "Those of you who aren't English may not be aware, but during World War II, the cathedral was considered vital to the country's morale, at least to the leaders, and its survival was extremely important, although I hope you did get some of that from the story.

"We've got a number of central themes to this one - the idea that the people rather than statistics are important being the obvious one, but also the futility and impermanence of any man-made edifice." He shrugged. "So, given that a bomb does eventually get it in this story - although not in the history of my world or the one we're currently in - was the fire watch's entire existence and mission futile? Or is the historian's determination to keep it alive important? Incidentally, the protagonist is correct about the stone - the remainder reads 'from destruction in war' and the dates, which I'm sure Ms Willis knew when writing it, but if you didn't, now you do. Anyway, what impact do you think there might have been had the cathedral burned down? Any thoughts on how the protagonist's bias against communists plays into his interactions with Langby?"

He pursed his lips. "I would also like to register a protest at the idea of stealing anything from the Bodleian, but I suppose that's a rant for a different day." Jon had Opinions about his alma mater.


When discussions were done, he wrote the next assignment on the board. "Ray Bradbury, 'The Crowd', for next week, please."

Comments

Re: Class activity

[onlyajones]

“I remember that,” Jo said suddenly, no it wasn’t to do with the text itself but the Second World War had only ended 7 years ago for her so she at least understood the historical context, “or at least I remember everyone at home talking about it, my parents did a lot of fundraisers for the war effort, I remember some of the conversations at the time,”

Re: Class activity

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Oh! Um, right." Jon nodded. "You'd probably know better than I do if the people at the time resented or appreciated so much money and effort being spent to protect one cathedral."

Re: Class activity

[onlyajones]

“Well I’m probably not the right person to ask,” she admitted, “my family … er … are more privileged than most,” she said at last, it was the politest way she could think of explaining it without bragging about her family’s wealth, “at least in my parents circle of friends they were in favour but I understand not everyone could afford those same sentiments,”

Re: Class activity

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon smiled. "It's good that you realise that. I imagine it was a complex issue in many ways. I wonder if you'd mind telling us what you remember about it."

Re: Class activity

[onlyajones]

“I remember that they mostly wanted to do their part for the war effort, especially those who weren’t able to serve,” she said, tilting her head as she remembered, “and they were also active in the local Church community so I think that also played a part in why they were in favour of raising money for the Cathedral,”

Re: Class activity

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I'm curious how much of the city's plight in general reached to the towns farther out," Jon carefully didn't ask.