Charles Baxter is the author of a short story named "Gryphon". It is a story of an unusual substitute teacher named Miss Ferenczi. She taught a 4th grade class in Five Oaks, Michigan, a total of three times
             David Auburn is the author of the play "Proof". It is about a 25 year old women named Catherine, who is the daughter of a genius mathematician. Catherine stopped her college education when her father became mentally ill, in order to take care of him. During that time, she figured out an immensely difficult proof, that mathematicians had been trying to solve forever.
             Walt Whitman is the author of the poem "When I Heard the Learned Astronomer". It is about a person viewing an astronomy lecture, by a known astronomer, and not clicking with it. The person feels sick during the lecture, gets up to goes outside, and views the stars.
             These 3 pieces of literature where chosen for our class to read, study, and write about. All three pieces are similar because of their main characters. The main character in each piece of literature is unconventional. These three characters engage in mental and physical experiences that are new, unique, and different. I agree with Baxter, Auburn, and Whitman's vision of success, and accumulation of knowledge. They believe in unconventional ways of learning, thinking, and existing.
             Although I agree with unconventional ways of learning, the story by Baxter called "Gryphon" is the one I disagree with most. Charles Baxter defines success, or true knowledge by imagination, mysticism, and an expanded way of wondering. He believes at looking at life in a new light, and seeing more of reality. This is shown throughout the story "Gryphon". Yet I believe childhood, and schooling, should be grounded, and systematic. I think children should have a schedule they follow, because it teaches them how to follow through. Children as young as 9, are not old enoug...