AIM: How can I expand my understanding of the life of John Cheever, and its influence on his writing through questions and discussion? DO NOW: Choose one quote by John Cheever that resonates (stands out) to you and write why (personal feelings or connections to text/world) 1. “Wisdom we know is the knowledge of good and evil, not the strength to choose between the two.” 2. “Art is the triumph over chaos.” 3. “When I remember my family, I always remember their backs. They were always indignantly leaving places.” 4. “All literary men are Red Sox fans - to be a Yankee fan in a literate society is to endanger your life.” 5. “Literature has been the salvation of the damned, literature has inspired and guided lovers, routed despair and can perhaps in this case save the world.”

AIM: How can I expand my understanding of the life of John Cheever, and its influence on his writing through questions and discussion? Activity 1: Active Note Taking  Teacher led PowerPoint discussion & note taking on the life of John Cheever  Task: Students must take notes in Cornell style (PLEASE LOOK AT BACK BOARD) and must link notes to elements of Southern Gothic Literature (author & story)

“The Swimmer” (1964) The Life of John Cheever

JOHN CHEEVER Born in Quincy, Massachusetts to Frederick and Mary Cheever on May 27 th, Frederick was in the shoe manufacturing business until the 1929 stock market crash when he lost his job and became a serious alcoholic. Cheever’s mother managed to support the family by opening up both a gift shop and a dress shop.

CHEEVER ’ S EDUCATION AND WRITING Formal education ended in 1930 when, at the age of seventeen, he was expelled from the Thayer Academy for smoking and receiving poor grades. This incident inspired him to write his first published story “Expelled.” He mingled with well know figures and ended up working for The New Yorker where he published 119 stories, becoming the second most extensively published short story writer in the magazine’s history.

John Cheever ( ) Married from 1941 until death; struggled with alcoholism; his journals, published in 1991, reveal his bisexuality—double life Known mostly for his portrayals of comfortable middle class suburban New York "Cheever Country:" The characters are good people who begin life with a sense of well-being and order. Later that order and well-being are stripped away and never quite fully restored. Mixes realism and fantasy: realistic stories often become morality tales

HOW HIS LIFE RELATES TO HIS WORK He was best known for his depiction of the emptiness at heart of the so-called American Dream. In 1942 Cheever enlisted in the army where he spent the next four years. As Cheever became more successful, his addiction to alcohol became more serious.

CHEEVER ’ S ALCOHOLISM Drinking had a negative effect on his work and caused friction between him and his peers. He was detoxified twice at Phelps Memorial Hospital before checking himself into Smithers Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in 1975 where he faced a long recovery. He eventually defeated alcoholism and became completely sober. He wrote Falconer in 1977, one of his best works. John Cheever died of cancer on June 18, 1982.

The Swimmer With a long-distance swimming as a means to link up a series of events not closely related, the author unfolds a picture of social manners and morals.

AIM: How can I expand my understanding of the life of John Cheever, and its influence on his writing through questions and discussion? Activity 2: Critical Questioning (5-7 minutes)  Students must create THREE questions that they want answered on the life of John Cheever or the meaning of "The Swimmer." QUESTION STARTER EXAMPLES:  What would you think would happen next when...  How would the story have been different if...?  Why did the author...?  What caused ____ to...?  Could ____ have happened in/if....

AIM: How can I expand my understanding of the life of John Cheever, and its influence on his writing through questions and discussion? Activity 3: Peer Collaboration (10-15 minutes)  Students will go around group and ask each of their three questions. Group members must determine answers/responses based on their reading of “The Swimmer” and understanding of John Cheever’s life.  Any questions that still need clarification should be documented in their notes.

AIM: How can I expand my understanding of the life of John Cheever, and its influence on his writing through questions and discussion? Wrap Up: Write response in your notebook:  Something that I heard in discussion that I did not recognize/identify/think about when I read the story was....  I agree/disagree with this statement/idea because…