Reader, Author, Text
Posted by George SeferidisIn our humanities classes, we guide our students to read slowly, closely, and deeply. We learn to value each other’s interpretations, aware that the joy of reading lies also in the layers of meaning, the interplay of ideas between readers and the text.
This winter, our 7th and 8th graders had an incredible opportunity to add another layer of complexity to the conversation–the author. On December 5th, Marjorie Agosín, the renowned poet and professor at Wellesley College, came to discuss her novel, I Lived on Butterfly Hill, with the students. Her coming-of-age novel has served as a pivotal text in engaging our students to grow as readers. Set in the vibrant city of Valparaiso, Chile, during a military coup, the protagonist character, Celeste, must flee her native land to seek political asylum in the United States. Through her journey of survivorship and self-discovery, Celeste becomes an agent of change for her community.
Agosín’s much-anticipated visit offered students an opportunity to discuss the questions they generated throughout their reading and during class discussions. Together, they shared interpretations of the text, asked poignant questions about Dr. Agosín’s process, and were exultant in learning that the sequel would soon be released. Our 2-hour exchange clearly demonstrated our students’ knowledge, maturity, and sophistication. In fact, Dr. Agosín said to them, “This is the beauty of literature. Because I think one thing, and you interpreted it, and it goes beyond what I see.” As our discussion came to a close, Dr. Agosín shared her collection of arpilleras, tapestries made by Chilean revolutionaries fighting against censorship and the oppression, which she has been collecting since 1974. With reverence, our students understood in real time what they were seeing: real evidence of that which they had experienced through text. It was a rare, unforgettable moment– experiencing the gift of literature unfolding before our eyes–the creation of meaning and connection between reader, author, and text.
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