“Come speak to me after class and we’ll see what you need help with. Or send me an email.” Dr. Belischmidt responded before he turned to his first slide. Immediately people began writing down the title.
“Point of View.” He repeated the topic. “So, what can you tell me about Point of View?” His red eyes turned to scan the crowd and Ludwig buried his face in his notes, trying to write slowly. He hated how Dr. Belischmidt did this – pick on people at random. It didn’t feel like teaching, more like torture.
His gaze narrowed in on a boy sitting at the back, imitating Ludwig’s motions on how not to get noticed. “Andrew.”
“Uh.”
“Tell me, what are the different types?”
Silence met his ears. The class shifted as the boy grabbed his text and began to rifle through it. Dr. Belischmidt’s eyebrows rose. He waited, patiently, until the boy got to the right page and listened to his answer of ‘Total Omniscience, Limited, Impartial, Editorial and Objective.’
“Good.” Was his only line of feedback at first. “Though it’s pronounced ‘Omnis-cience’, not ‘Omni-science.’” The boy flushed at his words and nodded. Defeated, Dr. Belischmidt let out a sigh. “Did anyone even read the material? I know it’s boring as shit, but come now.”
Ludwig contemplated raising his hand when he thought better of it. All throughout high school he was teased for being a nerd and a teacher’s pet. Now in University, he had a chance to blend in, to cast off the label of being a bookworm dork and be accepted for more than being the guy to go to when you wanted answers for homework. He sighed, staring at his notebook when the familiar high pitched voice began to speak.
“Ludwig read the material.”
Well, he closed his eyes, biting his cheek as hard as he could. So much for that.
“Ludwig.” Dr. Belischmidt seemed to coo, walking to the front so he could see him. Ludwig looked to him, his face pink, his eyes staring angrily every once in a while at Samantha. He hated her. “Can you give us the definitions – In your own words, of course.”
Ludwig let out a sigh and nodded. For a second he swore he saw Dr. Belischmidt gloating at his discomfort and embarrassment but he knew it was just his anger at Samantha acting up. He took a breath and began.
“Total Omniscience is when the narrator knows everything about the characters and story. Limited Omniscience is when we see into some characters minds but not all. Impartial Omniscience is when… there’s no bias on the actions the characters do. Editorial Omniscience is when we do get judgment on the characters actions and Objective point of view is when it’s seen from a third person and we don’t hear character thoughts.”
Dr. Belischmidt stared at him for a moment, his red eyes seeming to gleam for a moment under the light before he muttered out something. Ludwig frowned, looking at his book before his teacher cleared his throat, straightening. “Very good, Ludwig. So then, what would you say was the point of view used in A Tell Tale Heart?”
He winced a little. “Uh… Limited... I think?”
“Yes, very good! Anyone, other than Ludwig, know why?” His attention turned to the rest of class and he finally let out an exhale of adrenaline. He hated being put on the spot like that, especially when it wasn’t his choice. He looked at Samantha, who was staring dreamily up at Dr. Belischmidt and he shook his head in annoyance. The next time this came up, he was going to call her out. See how she liked it.
“Alright, good!” Ludwig snapped back to what was going on in class, completely missing a part of the discussion. “So, I want opinions now! What did those of you who read it think of The Tell Tale Heart? Hm?” His eyes scanned the room and everyone went silent. Ludwig looked over his shoulder, wondering if anyone was going to speak when he turned back and his eyes locked with Dr. Belischmidt’s. He almost whimpered. He knew he was trapped.
A Major in English is the finest Degree [6/?]
“Point of View.” He repeated the topic. “So, what can you tell me about Point of View?” His red eyes turned to scan the crowd and Ludwig buried his face in his notes, trying to write slowly. He hated how Dr. Belischmidt did this – pick on people at random. It didn’t feel like teaching, more like torture.
His gaze narrowed in on a boy sitting at the back, imitating Ludwig’s motions on how not to get noticed. “Andrew.”
“Uh.”
“Tell me, what are the different types?”
Silence met his ears. The class shifted as the boy grabbed his text and began to rifle through it. Dr. Belischmidt’s eyebrows rose. He waited, patiently, until the boy got to the right page and listened to his answer of ‘Total Omniscience, Limited, Impartial, Editorial and Objective.’
“Good.” Was his only line of feedback at first. “Though it’s pronounced ‘Omnis-cience’, not ‘Omni-science.’” The boy flushed at his words and nodded. Defeated, Dr. Belischmidt let out a sigh. “Did anyone even read the material? I know it’s boring as shit, but come now.”
Ludwig contemplated raising his hand when he thought better of it. All throughout high school he was teased for being a nerd and a teacher’s pet. Now in University, he had a chance to blend in, to cast off the label of being a bookworm dork and be accepted for more than being the guy to go to when you wanted answers for homework. He sighed, staring at his notebook when the familiar high pitched voice began to speak.
“Ludwig read the material.”
Well, he closed his eyes, biting his cheek as hard as he could. So much for that.
“Ludwig.” Dr. Belischmidt seemed to coo, walking to the front so he could see him. Ludwig looked to him, his face pink, his eyes staring angrily every once in a while at Samantha. He hated her. “Can you give us the definitions – In your own words, of course.”
Ludwig let out a sigh and nodded. For a second he swore he saw Dr. Belischmidt gloating at his discomfort and embarrassment but he knew it was just his anger at Samantha acting up. He took a breath and began.
“Total Omniscience is when the narrator knows everything about the characters and story. Limited Omniscience is when we see into some characters minds but not all. Impartial Omniscience is when… there’s no bias on the actions the characters do. Editorial Omniscience is when we do get judgment on the characters actions and Objective point of view is when it’s seen from a third person and we don’t hear character thoughts.”
Dr. Belischmidt stared at him for a moment, his red eyes seeming to gleam for a moment under the light before he muttered out something. Ludwig frowned, looking at his book before his teacher cleared his throat, straightening. “Very good, Ludwig. So then, what would you say was the point of view used in A Tell Tale Heart?”
He winced a little. “Uh… Limited... I think?”
“Yes, very good! Anyone, other than Ludwig, know why?” His attention turned to the rest of class and he finally let out an exhale of adrenaline. He hated being put on the spot like that, especially when it wasn’t his choice. He looked at Samantha, who was staring dreamily up at Dr. Belischmidt and he shook his head in annoyance. The next time this came up, he was going to call her out. See how she liked it.
“Alright, good!” Ludwig snapped back to what was going on in class, completely missing a part of the discussion. “So, I want opinions now! What did those of you who read it think of The Tell Tale Heart? Hm?” His eyes scanned the room and everyone went silent. Ludwig looked over his shoulder, wondering if anyone was going to speak when he turned back and his eyes locked with Dr. Belischmidt’s. He almost whimpered. He knew he was trapped.