Our Literary Club: The Swimmer by John Cheever, April 13th through 16th

"The Swimmer", a short story by American author John Cheever, was originally published in The New Yorker on July 18, 1964. Originally conceived as a novel, it is probably Cheever's most famous and frequently anthologized story. At one point Cheever wanted to parallel the tale of Narcissus, a character in Greek mythology who died while staring at his own reflection in a pool of water. Later he dismissed this as too restrictive: His story explores suburban America, especially the relationship between wealth and happiness. As published, the story was highly praised for its blend of realism and surrealism, as well as his use of myth and symbolism. A twenty-page-long story with a whole inner world in it for you to discover.

This American literary classic has been selected from the school library by two keen readers in the NA1B class, Melissa and Laura, I would like to thank them for their willing cooperation, and great ideas. They will be running our next literary club, to be held the second week of April, together with the teacher.

Find below the pdf with the short story and a complete glossary of words and expressions in it.

The Swimmer by John Cheever

These are the first two questions posed by your fellow students. You will have to think about them as you read:

1) How is Neddy presented at the beginning and the end of the story?
2) What do the pools and the storm represent in Neddy's life?

Our six-word memoirs

The very last piece of writing students produced in class was an effort of synthesizing their life experience into six words. In the style of such great authors as Ernest Hemingway, who wrote his six word story "For sale: baby shoes never worn", Advanced students wrote up the following memoirs that I present below. Thanks to everyone for your effort this year!

Much to learn, little time available, Santiago Sancho

Come back to the lovely childhood, María Fernández

Be patient, think twice, then shoot, Oián Sánchez

I was always living life late, Esther Zurdo

Never give up, always discovering myself, Almudena García

Imagine dragons, ride them, wake up, Virginia García

Work hard, play hard, then relax, Jesús Vegas

Follow the beats of your heart, Natalia Díaz

Pretty girls should never laugh aloud, Simona Rad

Infinite possibilities are waiting for you, Óscar Carrillo

Hot in summer, party and nothing, Jesús Abad

Live fast, enjoy the moment, restart, Raúl Zaragoza

Never came what I was expecting, Eduardo Gallego

Enjoy dancing with a good dancer, Carlos Fraile

Out risk, out risk, out triumph, Carmen de Blas

Smile, your enemy hates that, Ainhoa Luque

Imagine a better world, build it, Lara Garrido

Day without smiles, sadly missed day, Silvia Manchado

Present is alive, past is dead, Lisardo Prieto

Trying to try the best everyday, Luis Carnerero

Open your mind, close your eyes, Carlos J.López

A short story for our literary club: Alice Munro

Wintertime is really at its peak right now! Just the perfect time for some cozy reading on the couch, huh?  I suggest expanding our English vocabulary and our understanding of the human soul as we read a short story from one of the greatest contemporary Canadian writers: Alice Munro. The story "Chance" was published in 2004, in her book New Selected Stories. The idea is to have a brief literary workshop in class in a couple of weeks, when all of you have read the story and reflected on the discussion questions below. Also, and for your convenience, check out the glossary I made for you, before and while reading, as you like.

The story "Chance", by Alice Munro
Glossary from Munro's "Chance"
Discussion questions

In case you feel like listening to more stories by Munro, here's a couple of audio files containing two stories from Munro's last collection, Too Much Happiness, really recommendable too!

Free Radicals

Some Women