Jonathan Struck
Rafael Hidalgo
Bryanna Weed
Lisa Vo
2A 9/5/13
Class Picture
Summary:
The first chapter of this book, Class Picture, gives an introduction to the story; the information
given sets the rest of the novel in place. First, the narrator describes the school. Most important
being the writing competitions that take place in it. Then, he introduces to us Bill, George,
Purcell, Big Jeff, and Dean Makepeace. These are the characters that interact and shape the story
with the narrator. All besides Dean Makepeace are the narrator’s competitors for getting a
chance to meet the visiting authors through the competitions. Through his descriptions of people,
his school, and Troubadour, the reader gets to understand the narrator; notably, his thought
process and his position. For example, him not inviting other students to get published in
Troubadour because that would be competition to his work. Or, when he talks about literature
lovers you can tell he will be bias. He also displays his yearning to meet one of the visiting
authors so that he could be accepted; basically, he thinks that by meeting a visiting author he will
become well-known like them. The narrator brings up that his school is snobby and they are
extremely focused on their subjects. But, he explains that he admires this attitude and that since
there are no girls to compete for, other things are feminized and contested for.
Quotes:
“There was a tradition at my school by which one boy was granted a private audience with each
visiting writer” (Wolff 6).
This quote is significant because it is basically what the whole book is about. The narrator
wanting to meet a famous writer and get an “in”, in the writing community.
“That made me wonder if maybe he’d never meant to seem not Jewish- if my surprise was
simply the effect of my own narrowness and anxiety” (Wolff 12).
This quote is significant because it shows that the narrator is understanding and takes blame,
rather than place it.
“Bill was a contender” (Wolff 12).
This quote is significant because it shows the type of relationship the narrator and Bill have even
after the Jewish thing.
On Fire
Quotes:
“I’d sneaked the occasional gasper since eighth grade but at school it became an obsession”
(Wolff 30).
This quote is significant because it shows how he has self-control and can stop something he is
addicted to when he needs to.
“Then I almost got caught” (Wolff 30).
This quote is significant because when the other kid got caught and kicked out, it gave the
narrator the motivation to stop smoking.
“I wish they’d kick him out” (Wolff 34).
This quote is significant because it shows how little Jeff does not like his brother and that there
will be conflicts between the two for the rest of the book.
FOCUS 3: Narrative and Point of View
Discussion:
The narrator is narrow minded. The narrator is not likable. Some aspects of the narrator are
admirable. The narrator’s assumptions about himself and others do not ring true.
Writing Exercise:
Bill- Oh, him? He wasn't a bad guy. It was too bad, him getting kicked out; things could have
been better between us. Anyways, yeah, we were friends. He had his secrets, but I had mine too.
I think that's why we did well as roommates-we didn't share them between ourselves or with
others. We got along fine; we shared some laughs; we were almost friends, but not quite there
yet. If I had to sum him up, I’d say he was easy to get along with, passionate, but ignorant.
Alyssa Kunz
Filemon Chavez
Ms. Rosenbaum 2A
September 5, 2013
“Frost” Chapter Summary:
At the beginning of the chapter, George Kellogg won the audience with Robert Frost. At
first, the narrator thinks that George’s poem, entitled “First Frost”, is meant to be satiric, but
George tells him that it was meant to be serious. George was worried that Frost thought that he
was “having fun at his expense” (Wolff 40). Some of the boy’s felt that George’s poem should
not have been picked because they considered it a ‘take-off’. Robert Frost arrived during dinner
and read to the boys in the chapel that night. While in the chapel, Frost talks about a quote by
Percy Shelley; “…Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of mankind” (Wolff 48). Frost also
compliments George on his poem on how he must have had fun writing it. Frost then reads
poems to the boys and takes questions at the end. When leaving the chapel, the narrator and
George are talking and George tells him that he’s considering not meeting with Frost. The
narrator thinks that George is being ridiculous and that he’s missing the chance of a lifetime. The
narrator tells George that he would take his place to meet with Robert Frost and this makes
George mad. George returns to his room but the narrator heads to Blaine Hall with the rest of the
boys, hoping to see Frost there. Frost never shows up, but the boys talk to Mrs. Ramsey and find
out that the next Author is supposed to be Ayn Rand. Some of the teachers feel that Ayn Rand
should not be a guest. The next day, the narrator meets with George and finds out that George
did meet with Frost for half an hour. George told the narrator that Frost advised him that he was
wasting his time in school and that he should go to Kamchatka or Brazil. Frost never got to
explain why he thought George should go to these places. That night, the narrator went to the
library to look up Kamchatka and Brazil but he still could not figure out why Frost thought a
young writer should visit these places.
3 Significant Quotes:
1. “The day after John F. Kennedy won the presidency, George Kellogg won the audience
with Robert Frost.” (Wolff 39). This quote is significant to this chapter because the
chapter is about Robert Frost visiting the school and talking with the winner of the
contest.
2. “‘Did you think I was… How did Mr. Frost put it- having fun at his expense?’ ‘Well, I
guess you could read it in that way.’ ‘You could?’ ‘It’s possible.’ ‘Oh, jeez.’ He slumped
like a puppet, taking no care to hide his distress.” (Wolff 40 – 41). This quote is
significant because it lets the reader know that Frost and the students are reading
George’s poem in a different way than he intended.
3. “Mr. Frost told me I was wasting my time in school. He said I should go to Kamchatka.
Or Brazil.” (Wolff 59). This quote is significant because it shows the reader how Frost
feels about school and that Frost feels the young writers should be spending their time
elsewhere, out in the world.
Focus Eight:
Discussion Activities:
To the boys at the school, the masters seem like “sure and finished men”. The boys
respect their masters and think of them very highly. In the last section of the novel, we can see
that Makepeace was very aware that the boys thought of him so highly when he was a master at
the school. But when he did not work there, people saw him as just a regular man. Makepeace
missed how the boys looked up to him and wished to return. This shows how even the Deans
wish to belong (Belonging being a larger them of the novel).
I think the theme of Belonging is the most important issue in the novel. The characters’
desire to “belong” is very prevalent throughout the book. The narrator hides things about himself
from his schoolmates so that he would belong. We also find out that his roommate Bill White
had been hiding things about himself as well. Even Dean Makepeace had been hiding the truth
about Hemmingway. Towards the end, the reader can see that Makepeace desires to belong at a
school again; “He missed all of that, and knowing the people around him, and being known. He
missed a certain shy glance in which he saw respect and warmth and even some wonder. Arch
wanted that back, as much as the rest. He wanted it all back” (Wolff 192).
Writing Exercise:
In the book Old School, one major turning point is when he finds a short story called
“Summer Dance”. He comes upon this story when he was in George’s office late one night. He
had been writing rejection notes to boys who had submitted stories to be published in the school
journal. He took a break and began looking through old editions of Troubadors from other
schools. The stories all seemed the same until he came upon one from Miss Cobb’s school. It
was entitled “Summer Dance”. He connects with the story within the first few lines where it said
“I hope nobody saw me pick up the cigarette off the sidewalk.” He continues reading and he
feels as though the author had been writing about his life. He can connect with the narrator in the
story from the typing classes to escaping the needy parents, as well as being Jewish. He relates to
the story in so many ways that decides to copy the story, changing names and places. He submits
the story to the contest and ends up winning.
Sarah Smith, Nakeema Thomas, Ravindra Sookchand, Jessica Sturgill
Ms. Rosenbaum
Dual Enrollment English
Due: 09-05-13
Chapters: Ubermensch & Slice of Life
Questions: Discuss the way the narrator describes Ayn Rand. How does he feel about her before
he meets her? Does his viewpoint change after meeting her? If he fair? What instances of
“weakness or ignorance” has the narrator displayed up to this point? What capacity has he shown
to learn from his experiences and grow in understanding and depth of character?
Mr. Rice did not want to poison the innocents against her. He probably was not too fond
of her. The narrator feels that Ayn Rand was “as bad as she was popular” and that she was very
popular. The narrator also tried reading a few pages of the fountainhead for laughs, but forgot to
laugh. He might have not enjoyed it. Ayn Rand’s book must have left an impact on him because
he could not put it down, instead he bought it. The narrator thinks that Ayn Rand was okay, that
she had some interesting ideas.
Yes the narrators view point changes drastically after meeting Ayn Rand were once he
was so enthralled with her idea of being selfish and of being an objectivist. But after hearing her
speech to the boys and seeing her he realizes that she is a self-center hypocrite and that all the
people in her stories never showed weakness an never have any problem’s. He knew then that
Ayn Rand’s stories were just fanciful fiction. Weakness he has shown up to this point and
ignorance was that he allows himself to be blinded by her ides and not see the good that his
grandparents were to come and take care of him while he’s sick. He also realizes that he judge
them unfairly. His character has grown in how he sees people and e learns to appreciate the
kindness they show to him.
Summary: Ubermensch begins by the narrator contemplating his submission essay, and
knowing he will soon be meeting with Ayn Rand so he grabs a copy of The Foutainhead to get a
sense of Rand’s writings. After reading the book he felt as if he had caged power, straining like a
dammed-up river to break loose and crush every impediment to free its running. He then returned
to school three or four days earlier than most of the students because he wanted to get a jump on
his competition story. After reading The Fountainhead four times, he still hadn’t started his
paper. He then ended up in the infirmary for almost two weeks with influenza, and had
completely missed out on the competition. Come to find out, that Big Jeff had won. Purcell gives
the Narrator a long summary of what Big Jeff had wrote about, and that he had won the
competition because the blood of an artist runs though Big Jeff’s veins. Ayn and the Narrator
talk about her books, and other writers including Hemingway, much to Rand’s disgust. Slice of
life then begins with “Who is John Galt?” After, the narrator begins to rant about Ayn Rand, and
explains that every time he reads something of hers he can’t help but hear her voice. He explains
how shocked he was to find out how Ayn Rand felt about Hemingway, the narrator’s favorite
writer. At school, they say you must draw a line between writers and if you like one, you must
not like the other, but he had avoided the practice. He had always loved Hemingway’s writings
mostly because of the legend of his life. The Narrator always found that he was somehow
mimicking Hemingway’s writings, because he looked up to him so much. Dean Makepeace, at
the end of the chapter, told all of the boys that Hemingway would be the next visiting writer, and
the narrator had a feeling he would writing the winning story.
Quotes from Ubermensch:
Quote: “I was discovering the force of my will. To read The Fountainhead was to feel
this caged power, straining liked a damned up river to break loose and crush every impediment
to its free running.” (Wolff, 68)
Significance: The significance of this quote, is when the narrator begins to read The
Fountainhead, he begins to realize his greater potential. By realizing this, he wants to focus
solely on himself and that what he wants will be achieved.
Quote: “The Fountainhead made me alert to the smallest surrenders of will.” (Wolff, 81)
Significance: After reading The Fountainhead, the narrator takes in Ayn Rand’s value on
life. In the process of doing this, he takes simple things, (such as a man fitting another for shoes)
as man putting the needs of others over themselves.
Quote: “Ah, your meek little hearts are afraid to show themselves. Shame on you! You
must never be meek, the meek shall inherit nothing but a boot on the neck. You must be bold!
(Wolff 81).
Significance: By hearing Ayn Rand say this in person, the narrator’s eyes are now open
to see how selfish and narcissistic Rand’s values are. In hearing this, the narrator realizes how he
been acting and makes himself revert to his previous values.
Quotes from Slice of Life:
Quote: “The problem was that I could no longer read Ayn Rand’s sentences without
hearing her voice. And hearing her voice, I saw her face; to be exact, the face she’d turned on me
when I sneezed” (Wolff 67).
Significance: Ayn Rand left a huge impact on the way the narrator views her. From the
moment he sneezed all he could think about is the face she gave him, and the tone of voice she
used. He is forever scarred.
Quote: “This was a spiritual disgust, and it forced on me a vision of the poor specimen
under scrutiny, chapped lips, damp white face, rheumy eyes, and all she made me feel that to be
sick was contemptible” (Wolff 67).
Significance: This quote shows how Ayn Rand has the ability to make someone feel so
small when they are already feeling down. The word contemptible means to deserving contempt,
despicable. It helps to tie the whole quote together.
Quote: “her revulsion was as naked as a child’s and it continued to show itself in the cold,
offended tone she used with him” (Wolff 68).
Significance: This is how Ayn Rand reacted to the narrator’s sneeze, and how it impacted
him so badly. She is not a forgiving person, since she continued to speak in a harsh offended
tone. He was baffled.
Writing Exercise:
In Old School, the narrator has several friends that he encounters throughout the course of
the book. One of his friends, Jeff Purcell (or Little Jeff as the narrator calls him) is one character
that when compared to the narrator, can be seen as an opposite to the narrator. The personalities
of the two characters range on the opposite ends of the spectrum. The narrator can be perceived
as a shy type of person who only wants to have some sort of social strength. Purcell can be
viewed as a person who is proud of his background, but can be seen as contempt of others.
How the two characters view writing is another way to contrast them. The narrator has a
high value for writing. He looks at writers such as Robert Frost and Ernest Hemingway with
respect. Purcell however does not appreciate writing as much as the narrator does and would at
times argue against them.
A final viewpoint to observe is how the characters act throughout the novel. The narrator
rarely interacts with other people besides his friends and is a person who tends to stay under the
radar. Purcell is a very outgoing type of person who is willing to rebel against established rules
and curfews.
Overall, the personality, thoughts and actions of Jeff Purcell can make readers easily
categorize him as a complete foil to the narrator. Purcell is a rebellious and sometimes snobbish
character that makes the narrator question himself: “why am I friends with him?” The fate of
Purcell makes the narrator look better by default.
Jordan Hinkle, Michael Smith, Lindsey Whittington
Ms. Rosenbaum
Dual Enrollment English – 2A
9/5/13
In “The Forked Tongue” the narrator talks about Purcell skipping chapel daily and
refusing to go. He was worried for him, and believed that eventually Purcell would be kicked out
of school if he missed a certain amount of days. He simply did not care because a diploma from
the school would open no doors for him that were not already open. This brought up the
upcoming due date of the next story deadline and tells about how his fellow students are coming
along. Before the narrator would start his story he wanted to finish writing Troubadour. Finally
on the last night, he put it to rest and started on his story. He sat for hours and still did not have
clue on what he would write about. He then came across a story in the library and began reading
and became very interested. He started writing the same story but with his personal experiences
like it was his own piece of work.
In “When in Disgrace with Fortune” the narrator finds out from Mr. Ramsey that his
story had been picked by Ernest Hemingway. A few days after the news was out, the narrator
was told to report to the dean’s office. When he walked in he saw the headmaster, Mr. Ramsey,
Mr. Lambert, and the president of the Student Honor Council. They explained why he was called
in and it was for plagiarizing his story. They told him that his bags were already packed and that
Mr. Ramsey would drive him to the train station. Once they got there, Mr. Ramsey waited with
him, gave him a pack of cigarettes and sent him on his way.
“One must, above all, endure”(Wolff 107).
This quote is significant because all the students knew that the greatest of living writers would
soon be among all of them.
“Krebs acquired the nausea in regard to experience that is the result of untruth or
exaggeration… In this way he lost everything” (Wolff 110).
This quote is from one of Hemingway’s stories and it is significant because the narrator would
type out all his stories to try and get the feel of writing of writing a great story.
“I hope nobody saw me…bus pulled up” (Wolff 122).
This quote is from “Summer Dance”, the story that the narrator got caught for plagiarizing.
“You can tell your boy…sermon for today” (Wolff 136).
This quote is from the interview with Hemingway that was put in the school newspaper. This
article is him talking about the narrators story.
“I hope nobody saw me pick up the cigarette butt” (Wolff 143).
This quote is significant because it was the first line he saw when the headmaster put the story in
front of him.
“took out In Our Time…smoking car” (Wolff 152)
This quote s significant because when he was in school he had to quit smoking but since he got
kicked out, it does not matter whether or not he smokes.
Focus Five
Metaphor – “There are a lot of cats in this story” (Wolff 113). This metaphor helped shed a light
on this story by using a term that people used a long time ago. The cats they are referring to is
like dudes, so by using this term he is making it sound more like the times that he grew up in.
Simile – “…their shirt collars seemed to float like lights on a hazy sea” (Wolff 115). This was a
simile that was comparing the shirt collars of the students to lights on a hazy sea. It adds more
detail and imagery for the readers so they can picture the image that he was trying to paint in our
head.
Metaphor – “Now darling don’t be such a stick” (Wolff 116). This is a metaphor that is
comparing the guy to a stick, as if she were calling him stubborn. It makes the reading more
interesting and giving it more of an old time feel by using an old time expression.
Figurative language is used in the pages 119-121 during the editorial meeting. The first
example of figurative language used in these three pages was “Bulldog Buckles”, which was said
by Bill. Bulldog buckles was an example of alliteration. Alliteration is the occurrence of the
same letter. Speaking with a “forked tongue” is an example of a mixed metaphor. A mixed
metaphor is a combination between two or more incompatible metaphors, which produces a
ridiculous effect. Another use of figurative language is alliteration. This alliteration has “s” in the
beginning. This alliteration is “sanctum sanctorum”. “Apparently abandoned” is another use of
figurative language, which is alliteration. “What vein of acid knowledge had he struck” is
personification. The narrator gave knowledge a physical trait.
Summaries
One for the Books
The narrator was in search for a job, particularly a reporter, but no paper would even hire
him as a copyboy with his qualifications. He landed a job busing table and got a half a bedroom
apartment. Once he got settled in he was on a mission to meet the girl (Susan Friedman) who
wrote the original copy of “Summers Dance” and have dinner with her. The narrator got a hold
of her and let her in on the whole story about how he stole her short story and decided to visit her
in person. Once they finally met both of them were caught off guard, they did not expect what
they saw. After the dinner, Susan paid the bill and the narrator tried his best to convince her to
get back into writing, but Susan’s opinion towards writing was a lot different from the narrator.
She believed that writing makes people selfish and does not do any good. Then she left the
narrator half-drunk but in deep thought about what she had said.
Bulletin
Thought the narrator had been kicked out of the school, he was not forgotten. The boys who
were currently attending the school still sent the narrator bulletins informing him of upcoming
games, concerts, and reunions. In one of the bulletins, there was a memorial written for Dean
Makepeace that told the reader of both the dean’s death and marriage. He married on of the
schools secretaries not too long before dying of a heart attack. Dean Makepeace was thought of
as a child. This helped the Ramsey's out in their marriage. Without him, their marriage never
would have lasted as long as it did.
Quotes
One for the Books
“For a writer there is no such thing as an exemplary life” (Wolff 156).
The narrator’s life has always been this crazy mess. In this chapter while he is explaining his life
after his incident at his school, in which this quote perfectly summarized the chapter. He’s never
had a constant in his life, especially as a writer.
“You don’t write?
Not for years.
That’s sad.
Not at all” (Wolff 163)
The narrator is nervous about meeting the girl he plagiarized the story from. However he thought
her story was amazing enough for her to keep writing. Writing is still a big part of his life. You
can see how people have moved on and he has not.
“It just cuts you off and makes you selfish and doesn’t really to any good” (Wolff 163).
This quote was said by Susan in response to the narrator telling her that she should continue
writing. It’s ironic because the narrator getting kicked out of school came from writing and
copying her paper. In a way this quote is describing the narrator’s life and personality.
Bulletin
“Memory is a dream to begin with, and what I had was a dream of memory, not to be put to the
test” (Wolff 169).
The significance of this quote is that the narrator remembers his past of the school, and
how it was for him while he attended. Things did not go the way he had probably envisioned it
would and because of this it makes him angry to look back. Although he liked the school and
was proud to be a part of it, the fact that he got kicked out makes him angry and bitter.
“For a moment I considered going on to the elevator, but there are limits to anyone’s cowardice
and instead I waited until he finished his business at the desk” (Wolff 170).
This quote was significant in the way that he was able to stand up to his fears. He rejected
going back to the school for a visit and now Mr. Ramsey was in front of him. For the narrator
staying and waiting meant that he had changed and was now going to stop hiding from his past
and now face it.
“I didn’t know I was waiting for it, though I must have been” (Wolff 168).
The significance behind this quote was that although the narrator was kicked out of the
school, he was still hoping to get a letter of invitation. In his heart he truly wanted to be invited,
but he couldn’t power himself to actually go.
Focus Six: Symbols
Writing Exercise
My favorite movie would have to be Kicking and Screaming because it was funny and
very entertaining. It appealed to me because I play soccer and practically anything that relates to
soccer can catch my attention. The symbol in this movie is the coach figure. In the movie, the
main character, Phil, has dealt with his father and his competitiveness. Once Phil became a coach
of his son’s soccer team, he soon began to realize that he was acting a lot like his father used to.
When he had this realization, he changed his way to being a better coach to his players, and most
importantly, his son.
Discussion Activity
One of the narrator’s favorite writers was Hemingway because of the reliability to his stories.
Another reason he enjoyed Hemingway’s writing was because of the characters and how they
sometimes reflected him and how Hemingway used it to talk about his life through a character.
The narrator relates to the character so much he states “You saw everything Nick did, precise,
almost fussy descriptions that most writers would’ve left out.” Throughout the book we
understand that the narrator believes he is misunderstood and feels the need to hide his Jewish
background. When he came upon this story it was like they were talking about him and this was
his way to tell his classmates what his life was really like. Relating to the story in so many ways,
he believed that that story was his.
Mikala Armioia
McKenzie Liskey
Edgar Granados
Terrell Williams
05 September 2013
“Master” 2A
Discussion Activity
In Old School Mr. Ramsey said, “Finally, one does want to be known” which opens up
why Dean Makepeace held his secrets. This exact line is what slowly unpeels the reasoning of
why the narrator did as he did. It applies to the narrator because he defends his inner Jewish roots
because of how he sees them as outsiders. Even in the face of his roommate who is Jewish, he
never reveals it for a second. But the narrator breaks out of his guarded shell while plagiarizing
“Summer Dance”. The narrator “Finally [wants to be known]”. Even knowing the risks the
narrator submits his story that he stole and revealed a piece of his inner Jewish roots as a boy
with a Jewish name in the story. The narrator wanted to be known, he no longer wanted to hold
secrets that plagued him so. Even at the cost of his very privileged school and university, he gave
it all up just to be known.
The narrator’s story is similar to that of Dean Makepeace in the way they both lied.
Makepeace had the story of his time in the war spent with Hemingway and earned some respect
that he didn’t deserve. The narrator knew he was Jewish and held in his beliefs to fit in with the
school knowing how Jewish people were treated during that time. The resignation they had was
both different Makepeace was sent out by himself and the narrator was kicked out for plagiarism.
Both of them had the opportunity to come back to the school just in different ways. Makepeace
could have returned as the dean and the narrator had the chance to come back and speak to the
incoming students.
Writing Exercise
When the narrator steals the story, I believe that he does not have an unconscious desire to
be expelled from school or exposed as fraud. However, when this happens the narrator appears to
not be concerned because he does nothing to fight it, or defend himself. When he was first
caught by Goss and Ramsey, the narrator attempted to claim the writing as his own, but he
slowly draws back and admits that it is not his. I also believe that his expulsion can be
considered a good thing because he did become a great writer without being at the school. The
narrator shows that you can do great things all by yourself.
Summary
The beginning of the chapter starts with the story of Dean Makepeace and his unknown
relationship with Earnest Hemingway. The story originally told about how they were both
injured in the war and met later on. He was portrayed as a hero and students never really
questioned his decisions. The chapter also talks about his early teaching and how he was unsure
about how far he wanted to take that opportunity. His relationship with his wife was interesting
they stopped living together and hardly had contact with each other. He did however send her
loans whenever she was in a tough spot. When she was killed he was not told until two months
after and proceeded to cremate her body. He did not want to send a student home for violating
the honor code. He felt like a hypocrite because he, himself, once violated the honor code. After
he resigned, he went to live with his sister. He only lived with her for a few weeks at a time. He
spent a lot of his time making trips. He went many places including, visiting the columbarium
where Helen’s ashes were buried. He regretted quitting his job, but he didn’t know how to undo
what he had already done. He wrote Ramsey a letter telling him that he had made a terrible
mistake and would come back if given the chance. Arch then wrote the headmaster asking for a
job at the school. The headmaster replied and said that he hoped that arch would decide to come
back.
Quotes
 “He knew that his limp interested the boys, but he didn’t talk about it because he disliked


recalling his panic and incompetence,” (Wolff 180).
o The significance of this quote is that it gives insight in the inner secrets, lying by
omission.
“The masters themselves – none of whom actually made it to Europe during the war,
though some had been in uniform – treated him from the beginning with a respect it
would have taken anyone else years to squeeze out of them,” (Wolff 180).
o Arch withheld his lies knowing and breaking the honor code that he held so dear,
this reveals Makepeace’s inner shame and reveals why he left at the expulsion of
our narrator.
“Unrecognized, he had become a ghost, even to himself,” (Wolff 191).
o Arch let all his silence take over and made him the false literary deity that they all
held.