Literary ancestors, odd notes from Danny Langton’s class

2/15/2000 Literary ancestors. Words, in English, are losing their positive meanings. Shirts were worn by men and women of questionable character. Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi: I entreat thee not to leave me… Wherever thou goest, I will go… Ruth was someone with extremely desirable characteristics. And we all know the meaning of ruthlessness. History tells you what happened. Poetry tells you what ought to have happened. So said Herodotus. Only ten people in the world understand Ulysses. So said Crane. English soaks up other languages. Arabic words: zero, zenith, mattress, sherbet, paradise, alcohol, sugar, assassin, hashish. And Sputnik means fellow traveler. French babies are trained on mild cheese to sharp. Writing is like that.