Return of the Woolf

In this course, we will explore collaboratively two works of Virginia Woolf’s later period. Orlando is a mixture of history and fantasy inspired by Woolf’s love interest Vita Sackville-West. It romps through three centuries of British history with characters who never seem to age and who become embroiled in many amazing escapades. Orlando begins as a young page to Queen Elizabeth I, falls in love with a Russian princess, and eventually is transformed into a woman who marries a pilot. Exciting stuff! Lots of Woolfian humor and erudite verbiage—and plenty to please feminists as well. Tilda Swinton stars in a very good movie version of Orlando.

Between the Acts was Woolf’s last work, and true to her exploration of diverse genres of writing, it combines drama and a fictional narrative. It too is a kind of quick run-through of British history, as created and performed at a country pageant with complicated hosts. I look forward to digging into these works with other Woolf fans.

Class Recordings:

Class 1 - February 1

Class 2 - February 8

Class 3 - February 22

Class 4 - March 1

Class 5 - March 8

Class 6 - March 15


Group Leader: LIZ CABOT
Venue:
Meets on: Mondays 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Starting: 2/1/2021
Sessions: 6
Class Size: 24
Teaching Style: Seminar
Weekly Preparation: 1.5 hours
Group Leader Biography:

After 20 years of graduate study and teaching English literature and composition in colleges, Liz Cabot needed a change. She shifted sideways to English as a Second Language (ESL, now properly English Language Learning) and made the right move. She loves the mix of students, their motivation and appreciateion of practical help in adjusting to a new life. Now she happily moves between two roles: volunteer tutoring and teaching ELL to adults, and leading some BHS literature classes and taking others.