A Great Teacher Remembered at 100
July 14, 2012 5:27pm
Frye as I remember him
In 1975 to 1976, while a graduate student at the University of Toronto, I was fortunate to attend lectures, based on sections of Anatomy of Criticism, by Herman Northrop Frye.
Being on the English system, the lectures ran from early fall to late spring the following year. I well remember the solemnity of the large, packed room. Two older (and slightly pretentious) fellow-grad students typically sat in front of me. Occasionally they would nod to one another or raise an eyebrow.
I knew that I was nowhere up to the level of the lecturer. But I learned his lessons, and more about the construction of literature, as a portal of human nature, than I did from any number of classes.
Northrop Frye taught from a singular vision. He taught from his soul.
Thank you, Professor, for your time.


