Hugo-esque Mindset

Class date: Wednesday, Jan. 13th

The usually mild mannered Mr. Travers grinned with pleasure, pivoted dramatically, and punched the air with a celebratory fist-pump... leaving a smile on Andy’s face.

What did Andy say that got me so animatedly thrilled? Well, as Tracy immediately explained to the rest of the wondering class, “Connections!”

What do Esmeralda and Quasimodo have to do with the setting of Beowulf? Yes, the setting! ...of Beowulf! That was the connection Andy was proposing, and agreed upon with eagerness by the rest of the students.

We read Beowulf back in September, and it was not something I was planning on bringing up in class discussion. Esmeralda was our focus. Before discussing her mysterious past and her yearning for love, we put together a clear portrait of her in our mind. To do so, we didn't just dive in to the description of Esmeralda--we went back to Quasimodo's portrait first (see the entry for the class from Friday, Jan. 8^th). We read back through the description of hunchback, and, after naming each grotesque detail, we cited a corresponding trait of Esmeralda’s lovely features (e.g., jagged teeth and “tusk” vs. red lips; "cyclops" with wart-covered eye vs. large black fiery eyes; hunched-back and bow-legged vs. gracefully slender figure, etc...). To sum up, as Katy and Andy pointed out, they seemed to be exact opposites—Quasimodo was described by the Parisian populace as a “devil”, while Esmeralda was thought of by an admiring Pierre Gringoire as a “goddess”.

Of course, the contrast in the descriptions isn’t accidental, but it isn't obvious either. Victor Hugo, as the students are getting used to, continually (but subtly) draws purposeful comparisons between characters, scenes, settings, etc..., and the more aware we are that he is doing this the more compelling the story will be as we read.

After having contrasted the appearance of the demonic-looking Quasimodo to the angel-like Esmeralda, Andy was reminded of a similar juxtaposition in the country of King Hrothgar from Beowulf. From a hill, the hero, Beowulf, observes on one side of the panorama a dark, murky fen, filled with the shrieks of wicked and creepy creatures. On the opposite side, there is a large, magnificently gilded, feasting hall, which shines brightly in the sun and is filled with joyous music. If these two places were to be personified, you'd have Quasimodo and Esmeralda!

So why did I pump my fist in excitement? Because I love hearing my students taking a hill-top perspective and integrating their observations--making connections. I'm sure Victor Hugo would pump his fist, too!