Wool & Words

As you may know, I teach Freshman Composition at UGA. I love living in Athens, and I love working here. As much as I gripe about them (and I'm sure this semester will find many gripes on this page), I do so love teaching and I enjoy the time I have getting to know the various students who land in my classes.

I always feel a bit sorry for the 8:00 a.m. students. Most, if not all, of them get stuck here through the difficulties of scheduling, and since I struggle to get up to be here in time to teach the class, I'm sure they have trouble getting up in time to attend. While the start of class is usually lackluster, though, about 1/4 of the way through things always get cranking, and that's the good stuff, as far as I'm concerned. Today we were discussing a lovely short story by Katherine Mansfield titled "Miss Brill." I love teaching with this story; like all good literary pieces, it allows for discussion along so many avenues and really "opens up" nicely when you begin to apply pressure to it in various areas. It's short enough to be read quickly, memorable enough to be referred to at various points in the semester, and rich enough to satisfy the most voracious of literary appetites. My 8:00 a.m. class really did a good job discussing it, and I hope that my 11:00 class continues that trend.

And yes, knitters, there is a knitting woman in the story. Perhaps I'll have to start a list of tales with knitters...