Frazz by Jef Mallett for October 31, 2014

I think I need to remember that line.

Huh? What teacher would have that opinion? Short stories were studied in every English class I can remember and entire college courses are devoted to them. No wonder this boy looks up to Calvinhead instead.

“To Build a Fire” is indeed a classic. You can get all of Jack London’s short stories at Amazon for pennies (I did it long ago).

plus, his costume is appropriate for half of the country today. wow, it is cold outside. can’t wait until tonight when skimpy outfits, females, and having to go to multiple parties in those outfits.

I read most of my classics in Mad magazine, watched them on Rocky and Bullwinkle show.

so, who was Frazz

.. and the mysteries involving the Kirwood Derby and the Tiara Boom DeAy

: D Mrs. Olsen’s pumpkin tee-shirt is perfect!

Gotta agree with the kid on this one.

As an English teacher, I have to say that was one of the best descriptions of a classic that I have ever heard.

I read “To Build a Fire” in English class in highschool and still remember it. It definitely fits Caufield’s definition of a classic.

Well, Shakespeare is hard to forget, but I don’t think that the amount of pain caused by having to read that out of date, no character development, simplistic plot crap counts to make it a classic. Shakespeare is like a fraternity hazing. You have to have been subjected to it in order to be admitted to the “educated” society. It’s the “Emperor’s New Clothes” of literature. You have to pretend to be impressed with it, or you’re no longer a member of the proper class. And, yes, I’m a retired English teacher.

And it took me three decades to forget that particular short-story classic inflicted on my in my tender youth – which I had successfully done – until this week’s strip . . . I can still see those waxy, white stiff fingers in my mind’s eye all over again.

Kid, that’s a great definition of great literature! Trouble is, one man’s great is another man’s meh. I know I read certain Jane Austen and Charles Dickens novels in school and college, but I remember no details at all from them. On the other hand, A Canticle for Leibowitz, which I first read in 1962, still haunts me.

@bigpuma, I think we now know why Mrs. Olsen was disgusted. The story did not fit with her idea of classic literature. Of course, there are also disgusting elements in the story, but that isn’t the first word I would pick to describe it.

this makes a good point.