But bitter, earth-shattering politics isn't all the new to our species. In 1170, King Henry of England committed one of the most politically-motivated murders this world has ever borne witness to. He incited his confidants to take the life of his former-best friend Thomas Becket. The TL;DR version of this story (although the whole story is well worth your time) is that Becket was Henry's right hand many for many years. Then in 1168 Henry names Becket Archbishop of Canterbury, the most important religious post on England. Henry did this in an attempt to make the church subservient to the English crown. He was sure that Becket - his friend, his informant, his bodyguard, his everything - would bring the rebellious elements of the church in line for the good of the whole country.
Becket did no such thing. Almost immediately Becket challenged the King's authority in a whole host of controversial issues. In short, he became King Henry's worst nightmare. And the King - not for the last time in English history either - moved to have this man killed.
One line from Becket's writings remains with us to this day. When the King, in writing, asked his friend why he was suddenly so resistant and objectionable, the Archbishop replied, "With this new position you have introduced me to deeper obligations."
That's an interesting phrase and I think it pertains to you this year.
We've talked before about how writing used to be for school or for the teacher or for the grade. Some of you claim you still feel that way, even in AP Lang. I think that's legitimate and honest feedback. But I want more than ever for your writing to be something that you express because you believe in it. YOU believe in it. The prompt might be a bit mundane in your eyes but something in the text galvanizes you in a way that is unshakable. The words you produce, then, become not just the things you think you ought to say to get a good grade but things that you no longer have the power not to say because they are eating you from within.
Becket was placed before a man he counted as his friend and still he found within him the unquenchable desire to do the right thing. To stand up for people he believed in, for a world view that mattered to him. And we all have those moments. Things that push us to finally write and communicate in a way we wish we always had. Sometimes those things are huge (elections, family changes, friends) and sometimes the reason we cannot contain our words start with the smallest crack in the foundation of something we thought was rock solid (a la House of Usher).
Last week Leonard Cohen died (youtube him... seriously) and I thought a great spark of literary genius had gone out from this world. The air is colder today and darker. For some of you, this is true for other reasons. How many of you have sat with me after school and said, I always thought I wrote just fine? I put some words on the page and that was "good enough"? Then along came this scrawny pompous white Lang teacher who said, "why did you use that word?" and "what do you mean by this phrase?" and you were forced to explain and clarify in ways that you hadn't really had to before. And your grade suddenly wasn't what it always was and your world was darker and colder.
We both have outlets though. We put words on the page and it begins to ameliorate us. We say the things we want to say the way we want to say them. And in doing that - our style, our voice - we discover that we had the words all the time. It just took jarring us from our place to make us realize it.
You see, the thing that King Henry never understood was the Thomas Becket opposed him not because he had the power to but because with great power come great responsibility. To stand in the most powerful position of a country without any checks or balances is the most dangerous situation of all. You have some of that power: you are educated and articulate and your voice in both your class and school resonates, whether you know it or not. So here and now we shape it: we make your words a force for good, ones that can be eloquent and perceptive about the world around you. Pathos. Logos. Ethos. It's not random, do you see?
When Becket was murdered all of England was aghast. A shrine was built to commemorate him and for centuries people made pilgrimages to honor his memory. It has lasted The shrine you construct tomorrow with your words and tone will last as well. So be sure every brick in the foundation is strong enough to support the depth of your "obligations".
We've talked before about how writing used to be for school or for the teacher or for the grade. Some of you claim you still feel that way, even in AP Lang. I think that's legitimate and honest feedback. But I want more than ever for your writing to be something that you express because you believe in it. YOU believe in it. The prompt might be a bit mundane in your eyes but something in the text galvanizes you in a way that is unshakable. The words you produce, then, become not just the things you think you ought to say to get a good grade but things that you no longer have the power not to say because they are eating you from within.
Becket was placed before a man he counted as his friend and still he found within him the unquenchable desire to do the right thing. To stand up for people he believed in, for a world view that mattered to him. And we all have those moments. Things that push us to finally write and communicate in a way we wish we always had. Sometimes those things are huge (elections, family changes, friends) and sometimes the reason we cannot contain our words start with the smallest crack in the foundation of something we thought was rock solid (a la House of Usher).
Last week Leonard Cohen died (youtube him... seriously) and I thought a great spark of literary genius had gone out from this world. The air is colder today and darker. For some of you, this is true for other reasons. How many of you have sat with me after school and said, I always thought I wrote just fine? I put some words on the page and that was "good enough"? Then along came this scrawny pompous white Lang teacher who said, "why did you use that word?" and "what do you mean by this phrase?" and you were forced to explain and clarify in ways that you hadn't really had to before. And your grade suddenly wasn't what it always was and your world was darker and colder.
We both have outlets though. We put words on the page and it begins to ameliorate us. We say the things we want to say the way we want to say them. And in doing that - our style, our voice - we discover that we had the words all the time. It just took jarring us from our place to make us realize it.
You see, the thing that King Henry never understood was the Thomas Becket opposed him not because he had the power to but because with great power come great responsibility. To stand in the most powerful position of a country without any checks or balances is the most dangerous situation of all. You have some of that power: you are educated and articulate and your voice in both your class and school resonates, whether you know it or not. So here and now we shape it: we make your words a force for good, ones that can be eloquent and perceptive about the world around you. Pathos. Logos. Ethos. It's not random, do you see?
When Becket was murdered all of England was aghast. A shrine was built to commemorate him and for centuries people made pilgrimages to honor his memory. It has lasted The shrine you construct tomorrow with your words and tone will last as well. So be sure every brick in the foundation is strong enough to support the depth of your "obligations".
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