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Fordim Hedgethistle · 11-12-2005, 09:54 PM

Wow -- wonderful thread this is turning into....

Beebs m'love, in reference to my Tolkien-infamy: that flash in the pan was so brief and so long ago now (in the terms of academic life in which every four years sees a complete turnover of the resident population) that -- as flattering as it is to my ego to believe that the students would be trying to rattle my chain -- I doubt very much that they even know to put my name together with Tolkien's.

And to those who fear that the students are trying to kiss up to me, I've been around the block a few times and can see that from a mile away. Here's something to scare anyone who is a university/college student: when you are bluffing, pretending, or sucking up....we can tell. (We can also see you talking to your friends, passing notes, sending text messages and cheating on exams.)

I did in fact engage the students about their dislike for TI, at some length, which is how I found out that it was not just the absence of girls which upset them, but the overwhelming focus on the growth of a boy. I think, however, having had time -- and the opportunity afforded me by all your incredible replies -- to understand it a bit better. NONE of the students in the class had really "got" that Long John Silver ends up as a father-figure to Jim Hawkins. The book ends with Jim glad that Silver is gone, and never wanting to see him again, but wishing him well and clearly thinking a lot about this man who has come to dominate his imagination. I took it for granted that this would very clearly signal that Jim looks upon Silver as a father -- it's just so exactly how that relationship is. When I did point it out, the men in the class all understood instantly their own feelings about Silver, but the women were frankly skeptical that the book unfolded as I was describing it: they seemed unsure that the relation of Jim and Silver could be seen as a child-parent one.

So, they didn't 'get it'... Fair enough, I suppose, I don't get Bridget Jones...although I devoured all of the Little House books; and Ann of Green Gables and Little Women are fine stories. But of course, there are men in all of those... curiouser and curiouser.

11-12-2005, 09:54 PM	#26
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Wow -- wonderful thread this is turning into.... Beebs m'love, in reference to my Tolkien-infamy: that flash in the pan was so brief and so long ago now (in the terms of academic life in which every four years sees a complete turnover of the resident population) that -- as flattering as it is to my ego to believe that the students would be trying to rattle my chain -- I doubt very much that they even know to put my name together with Tolkien's. And to those who fear that the students are trying to kiss up to me, I've been around the block a few times and can see that from a mile away. Here's something to scare anyone who is a university/college student: when you are bluffing, pretending, or sucking up....we can tell. (We can also see you talking to your friends, passing notes, sending text messages and cheating on exams.) I did in fact engage the students about their dislike for TI, at some length, which is how I found out that it was not just the absence of girls which upset them, but the overwhelming focus on the growth of a boy. I think, however, having had time -- and the opportunity afforded me by all your incredible replies -- to understand it a bit better. NONE of the students in the class had really "got" that Long John Silver ends up as a father-figure to Jim Hawkins. The book ends with Jim glad that Silver is gone, and never wanting to see him again, but wishing him well and clearly thinking a lot about this man who has come to dominate his imagination. I took it for granted that this would very clearly signal that Jim looks upon Silver as a father -- it's just so exactly how that relationship is. When I did point it out, the men in the class all understood instantly their own feelings about Silver, but the women were frankly skeptical that the book unfolded as I was describing it: they seemed unsure that the relation of Jim and Silver could be seen as a child-parent one. So, they didn't 'get it'... Fair enough, I suppose, I don't get Bridget Jones...although I devoured all of the Little House books; and Ann of Green Gables and Little Women are fine stories. But of course, there are men in all of those... curiouser and curiouser. __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.