Course

The term romantic has a number of competing meanings, one of which is a desire for something transcendent, implying a critical rejection of this world. In this course we will read three works of fiction and view one film (viewed outside of class) that are romantic in the above sense. The works of fiction are Flaubert, Madame Bovary; Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby; and Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (where my mission is to convince you there’s much more to it than we all detected in our adolescent reading). The film will be Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life. 

Bill Smoot has taught for over 40 years in prep schools, universities, OLLI, and the college program at San Quentin Prison. He has published short stories, a novel, and essays.