We're talking about theme in literature this week. Today, we did a concept map so that the students could have a more visual understanding of what never really realized is a somewhat complex thing.
Then, we read several Zen parables and tried to pick out themes we saw in them. Several of the parables mentioned a "sutra," meaning, as was indicated by the footnote at the bottom of the page, a book of teachings.
But, oh no.
One person asked, "What's a sutra?" And another student answered, "It's like sex positions and stuff." Then I explained, "Well, yes, I think you're thinking of the Kama Sutra, which is a book of teachings about sex. More generally, sutras are books of teachings." I thought they had it, but when we finished the next parable, I asked, "Okay, so what do we think is a theme in this story?"
"Umm...(teenage-boy giggling) Don't have sex even if she's a hottie?"
I wanted to say, "No, motherfuckers. It's not. about. sex."
2 comments:
are you suuuuuuuure?
yeah, you know, now that i think about it, what self-respecting english major would ever conclude that anything is not about sex.
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