Awesome! I might just read this along with you. I used to love teaching "Bartleby" to high school students, though I'd have to do it late in the year because they'd adopt the popular refrain "I'd prefer not to" when it came to doing anything. 'Got old pretty quick.
I didn't read "Moby Dick" until a couple of years ago, but mannnnnn.... I don't know how you can discuss, or, really, read any American Literature until you've read at least a little bit of that book. I just love the idea of Melville taking EVERYTHING that he knows about the world -- all he's gathered -- and putting it into one volume with some kind of loose narrative thread. It was an amazing experience reading that one.
I'm almost done with it and man, what an experience it's been. I definitely like the writing style the most out of all the different aspects; it's amazing to read literally any sentence.
It feels like the most autobiographical a book can get without being explicitly an autobiography.
Moby Dick is my favorite book and I've read it cover to cover several times. However, for some odd reason, I couldn't finish Billy Budd. Maybe I should give it a good college try once more...
I think so! Melville does something pretty amazing in this story. It’s semi-allegorical and a picture of the gospel. The ship is the world, Captain Vere is the Father, Billy the Son, and Claggart is the serpent. Pretty cool stuff.
Haha! I love it. Teaching that book too early in the year is a liability.
I’ve always wondered if Bartleby was a direct influence on the movie Office Space. It seems like it took its cue from Melville (although in an obviously modern kind of way). Very funny movie, but pretty ornery as I recall.
Awesome! I might just read this along with you. I used to love teaching "Bartleby" to high school students, though I'd have to do it late in the year because they'd adopt the popular refrain "I'd prefer not to" when it came to doing anything. 'Got old pretty quick.
I didn't read "Moby Dick" until a couple of years ago, but mannnnnn.... I don't know how you can discuss, or, really, read any American Literature until you've read at least a little bit of that book. I just love the idea of Melville taking EVERYTHING that he knows about the world -- all he's gathered -- and putting it into one volume with some kind of loose narrative thread. It was an amazing experience reading that one.
I'm almost done with it and man, what an experience it's been. I definitely like the writing style the most out of all the different aspects; it's amazing to read literally any sentence.
It feels like the most autobiographical a book can get without being explicitly an autobiography.
Moby Dick is my favorite book and I've read it cover to cover several times. However, for some odd reason, I couldn't finish Billy Budd. Maybe I should give it a good college try once more...
I think so! Melville does something pretty amazing in this story. It’s semi-allegorical and a picture of the gospel. The ship is the world, Captain Vere is the Father, Billy the Son, and Claggart is the serpent. Pretty cool stuff.
Great! I bought the book after you announced that the course would be coming.
Should be a new one each week until it’s done. Seven lessons planned in all.
Haha! I love it. Teaching that book too early in the year is a liability.
I’ve always wondered if Bartleby was a direct influence on the movie Office Space. It seems like it took its cue from Melville (although in an obviously modern kind of way). Very funny movie, but pretty ornery as I recall.