unit 2: fiction 1—pressfield, the legend of bagger vance
MEETING 1: introduction to the novel
Before we begin discussing Steven Pressfield’s novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance, I want to walk through with you all two of your sports profiles.
Let’s begin with Pressfield on the Rich Roll show. Pressfield talks about getting out of your own way and eliminating Resistance (with a capital R): In what ways do you have an internal battle that prevents you from doing the things that you do well?
How does the novel begin? Did you skip immediately to chapter 1? If so, we should go back and look at the opening quote and the note to the reader.
What is a frame narrative? Why do you think Pressfield begins the novel in such a way?
What do the first 5 chapters of the novel set in motion from a narrative standpoint?
Homework:
For tomorrow’s class, please read chapters 6-8, pages 26-52. There will be a short quiz on the first 52 pages of the novel.
MEETING 2: character and setting
Take out your doc from last class. I’m going to have you add a little before turning it in: Who is someone that speaks into your life like Bagger does, someone who delivers more than advice and inspiration, though it’s related to those things? Pressfield mentioned Arjuna, Athena, and Jesus in his conversation with Rich Roll.
In the second half of class, you’re going to think about Bagger Vance through the lens of our first two elements of fiction—character and setting.
Homework:
For Friday’s class, please read chapters 9-14, pages 53-107.
MEETING 3: the authentic swing
To begin today, we’ll have a large-group discussion about some of Pressfield’s ideas about our endless fascination with greatness—in this case, golf—and what it can teach us about the Ego and the Self. I’ll need someone to find the perfect passage to begin our discussion. Which parts of Bagger’s philosophy resonate with you? Which do not?
In the second half of class, I’m going to have you write in response to your choice of a recent selection of a short ESPN profile:
(1) Go to the SC featured youtube channel. Scroll through their playlist and select and watch one video of 5+minutes.
(2) In response, compose a 3-¶ writing.
¶1: summarize the stories of the video,
¶2-3: devote one ¶ to the video and respond to what you learned/what you found interesting.
In your first ¶, make sure to include what you identify as the video's purpose and what it did effectively.
Questions to help prompt your response in ¶s 2-3: Did anything in the video surprise you? Was there anything unusual in how they told the story? Is there a memorable detail?
(3) Submit at the end of class.
Homework:
Finish your assignment from the second half of class.
