Literature   

Best American Short Stories 2023 is the perfect course for those who might enjoy a deep dive into some of the finest short stories written last year by some major writers including Sara Freeman, Lauren Groff, and Sana Krasikov, just to name a few. Before each session, students will read three designated submissions from the short story anthology, “The Best American Short Stories 2023,” which will then be discussed in a comfortable, inclusive, intimate classroom setting. This collection explores a wide variety of settings, characters, styles, and intentions—all stunningly contemporary. Look forward to this new term with confidence that students and teacher alike will enjoy and learn from this text and from each other. NOTE: “The Best American Short Stories 2023,” edited by Min Jin Lee, is required.

Many consider Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” to be his most ambitious novel. Steinbeck himself thought it to be his magnum opus, stating “East of Eden” “…has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years.” He later said, “I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this.” The book explores themes of depravity, beneficence, love, the struggle for acceptance and greatness, the capacity for self-destruction, and issues of guilt and freedom. It ties these themes together with references to and many parallels with the biblical story of Cain and Abel. As we accompany the Trask and Hamilton families through several generations of struggle and triumph, we will consider the sources of evil in our own lives and evaluate the opportunities for redemption. In our first session we will take a close look at the Biblical story of Cain and Abel (Genesis, chapter 4, verses 1-16), on which much of “East of Eden” is based. NOTE: Students will need to read Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” in any format and should have read at least the first six chapters before the first class.

Let’s complete our exploration of Louise Penny’s ongoing mystery series about Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Quebec, and the villagers of Three Pines. We will focus on overarching themes, character development, and literary devices in the books, with attention to the arts, cultural elements, history, humor, philosophy and even food in these award-winning novels. The class sessions/titles to be read in advance are as follows: 1. April 11: “A Better Man” and “All the Devils Are Here” 2. May 9: “The Madness of Crowds” 3. June 6: “A World of Curiosities” 4. June 13: a look back at the whole series. NOTE: This is Part 3 of a year-long, 12-session course and is open to students who did not take Parts 1 or 2. Participants should read the specific titles before each lecture/discussion session. The sessions are NOT on consecutive weeks, and the last session is after the end of the OLLI term.

Shakespeare’s sonnets are universally acclaimed to be gems of the English poetic tradition. Published in 1609, apparently without permission, these intensely personal poems have been examined under every kind of literary microscope, especially for biographical clues about the writer. In this course, we will closely read a selection of sonnets through a variety of lenses, considering them both as discrete poems and as potential sources of information about possible authors, including William Shakesper (sic) of Stratford; Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke; and Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. For the reading in our final session, students will select the sonnets and their accompanying lenses. Copies of the sonnets under discussion will be provided by the instructor. Both new and experienced readers of the sonnets are welcome; the only criterion for success is the willingness to bring an open mind to the conversation.