Heroism, Humanism & Hijinks: Literature In Action - Week 1 (5th period)

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Thursday was in the classroom before anyone else, prepared to watch as each student came in and signed in. The desks were arranged in a circle to encourage discussion, but there was still room for everyone to push the desks back and use the floor space if necessary.

The classroom itself hadn't been decorated yet, but give it time.

There was a copy of the syllabus on every desk.

"Hello," Thursday greeted. "I'm Thursday Next and this class is entitled 'Heroism, Humanism and Hijinks: Literature in Action'. If you're here for biology or a dance class, I'm afraid I can't help you. On your desks you'll find the syllabus for this class. We'll be covering a book a week, except for next week when we'll be studying nursery rhymes."

She took a moment to allow it to sink in. "Look around you. Get to know your classmates. You'll be relying on each other for the practical portion of this class. Let's start by going around in a circle starting with me and then on to my right," she nodded at one of the students. "Tell your name, where or when you're from and what your favourite piece of fiction is, whether it be a novel, play, poem or short story. I'll start. My name is Thursday Next. I'm from Swindon, England, 1989 in an alternate timeline from what I'm told is the local one. My favorite piece of fiction is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte."

After the introductions were done, Thursday continued. "Good. I'm passing around a quiz. You won't be graded on this. It's a warm-up and it's to show me your level of understanding of the literature of the English language so I know what not to waste your time with. There are plenty of other things I can waste your time with. Take your time and feel free to ask me any questions you might have."


Class Roster

Comments

Sign In

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

One after the other so it collapses please.

Re: Sign In

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec

Re: Sign In

[ktarian-wildman.livejournal.com]

Naomi Wildman

Introductions

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Name, place/time of origin and favourite piece of fiction

Re: Introductions

[twohalvesofaphd.livejournal.com]

"My name is Zack Addy, I'm from Michegan, in 1997, my favourite peice of fiction is Scientology: A History of Man by L. Ron Hubbard, it's rare to find a scientific parody of that magnitude."

Re: Introductions

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"My name is Alec, I'm from Seattle, 2015," he began, then smirked slightly. "The only book I've really read is On the Road by Jack Kerouac, but it was pretty good. I guess that'll have to be my favorite, for now."

Re: Introductions

[ktarian-wildman.livejournal.com]

"I'm Naomi Wildman," Naomi said, "I come from San Francisco, California in the year 2380 ... my favourite piece of fiction is called The Lost Letters of Aquitaine (ooc: because it's the mun's favourite novel) by Judith Koll Healey, and it's a historical fiction novel,"

Re: Introductions

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly was glad Alec was in the class. Because that meant there was someone there who had read fewer books than she had.

"I'm Molly Hayes," she said. "I'm from LA, 2009, but a different LA than most people know. My favorite books are the Barry Plodder at Wizard School series."

Re: Introductions

[proudsidekick.livejournal.com]

"My name is Layla Williams, and I'm from Maxville, CA, in 2006." It was still weird for her to hear about people who were from different years. "My favorite books are the Juanita Drake series...well, the first few, at least. They've kind of moved away from their original purpose in the last few books."

Re: Introductions

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I'm Cameron Mitchell. I'm from Memphis, in 2006," he paused for a moment to try to come up with a book that might sound impressive. His brain flailed. "I like the books on Galaxy Quest." Damnit.

Re: Introductions

[smartestone]

"My name is Hermione Granger, and I'm from England in 1995," Hermione introduces herself. "I mostly tend to read non-fiction, but I quite liked War and Peace when I read it." Sick thing is, she's not trying to be pretentious.

Re: Introductions

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Hi, I'm Lana Lang. I'm from Smallville, Kansas. It's 2002 there. My favorite piece of fiction?" She thought hard. "There are just so many. I have to say I have a soft spot for the Nell of Blue Roofs series still."

Re: Introductions

[multiplez]

"I'm Z Delgado, from Newtech City, California, 2021. My favorite piece of fiction is, um, the Jewels of the Caribbean series by Angelica Demesnes." Z steadfastly refused to blush.

Re: Introductions

[bookwormwood.livejournal.com]

"I'm Matilda Wormwood from Nevada in regular old year 2006, I like anything by Charles Dickens but particularly I love Oliver Twist."

Re: Introductions

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"My name is Hamlet Dane Jr, and I am from Elsniore, Denmark in what I've always assumed is the same world and year. I'm rather fond of the brilliant Elizabethan-era plays by Christopher Marlow."

Re: Introductions

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"My name is Conner McKnight, and I'm from Reefside, California, 2004." He coughed, embarrassed, and mumbled, "Same favorite books as Lana."

Re: Introductions

[notajar]

"I'm called Door. I'm from London Below, which... isn't quite in the same world as this one. I'm used to that, but I'd no idea there were so many others." Door looks a little thrown by that. "As far as I know it's now there. 2006. My favourite book is... I'm not sure, really. I love to read, so there's too many to choose from."

Re: Introductions

[deanforrester.livejournal.com]

"I'm Dean Forrester, and I'm from Stars Hollow, Connecticut, where it's 2001, as far as I know. I lived in Chicago up until last year, though. Anyway, um, my favorite piece of fiction? Anything by Ernest Hemingway. Although I also love Jane Austen, so. Yeah."

Re: Sign In

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"I'm William Kessler, I'm from, all over really, in 1997. And I haven't had a lot of chance to really sit down and read, but I think my favorite is The Silent Strength of Stones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman."

Re: Introductions

[2-twin-devils-2.livejournal.com]

"I'm Kaoru Hitachiin" "And I'm Hikaru Hitachiin." "We're from Tokyo, Japan in present year 2006 and our favorite book is Sanshiro by Natsume Soseki."

Re: Introductions

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"I'm Dawn Summers," she waved, "and I'm from Sunnydale, California, former in 2003. My favorite books?" Wow, tough question. "It kind of depends on the mood I'm in, but I like the Emma James's Diary books a lot."

No, Buffy didn't know she'd read them. Ssssh.

Quiz

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Read the description and figure out who the fictional character is.

1. I call London my home and, in retrospect, I could be considered a drug addict from all the sniffing I did. It never affected by performance or stopped the police from calling on me when they needed my help. I have a companion who follows me around and records my every word and move.

2. I started out well-to-do and had several large manors to my name. By the end of the novel, my wife is dead, I've had my hand amputated and I've gone blind. I'm a hermit until my long-lost love chooses me over going to India, returns and we live happily ever after.

3. I'm a scientific genius, but I have no interest in life on land. What calls to me is beneath the surface, so it's lucky that I have a submarine. I've roamed the seven seas and have been known to take prisoners who end up adventuring with me. I'm not fond of squids.

4. I have talked to animals and been led astray by them. I have a tendency to eat and drink things that I shouldn't simply because they have labels telling me to do so. I've become quite attached to my head since a crazy monarch kept screaming at people to try to cut it off. I'm not particularly fond of tea anymore, at least not when it's served by a crazy man wearing a large hat.

5. I'm a Dickensian character, and thus I call London my home. I'm not a legitimate businessman, but I don't do any of the dirty work myself. I look out for the street kids and get them to do all of the pick-pocketing that funds my work. Some say deep down I must be a good man for taking in all of those kids, especially the orphan runt who isn't satisfied with one serving of food, but really I just like money.

6. Fairies and stage actors fill my life during the play I'm involved in. I'm involved from time to time, but mostly I just like to comment, cause mischief, stir up the fairies, mess with the mortals and give an outstanding final monologue.

7. All bar one of my friends are animals and we live in relative peace in the woods. Sometimes, however, my belly gets too full and I find myself stuck trying to get through the door to my home. All of my friends come to the rescue, even if it does take them a while to get the right solution. But no matter how many times I get stuck, I just can't give up my honey addiction.

8. My ship was taken over by pirates and, long story short, I ended up shipwrecked. No, I don't own a volleyball. I spend most of my time reading the Bible, dealing with cannibals and getting my newly-rescued servant to keep house for me.

9. I was one of many of the animals on Mr Jones' farm to take over and live in a communal peace. Unfortunately, being the pig I am, my wiggly-tailed friends and I decided to take over and kill off everyone who disagreed with me, making life miserable and reaping the rewards of the farm for myself. I'm named after a French leader, but I'm really a lot more Russian than I look.

10. I don't talk to many people, but I did save a young pig by teaching him to read, write and talk. I'm polite, well-mannered and have eight legs, but don't hold that against me.

Re: Quiz

[twohalvesofaphd.livejournal.com]

1. Sherlock Holmes
2. Edward Rochester
2. Captain Nemo
4. Alice
5. Fagin
6. Puck
7. Winnie the Pooh
8. Robinson Crusoe
9. Napolean
10. Charlotte

Talk to Thursday

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Ask questions, make comments, you name it.

Re: Talk to Thursday

[2-twin-devils-2.livejournal.com]

"Why is your name Thursday? Isn't that a day of the week?"

Talk to each other

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Have at it.

Re: Talk to each other

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Billy looked around at the rest of the class. He waved to Naomi, Lana and Dean, the only one's he'd met so far.

OOC

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Plock.