James Finnegan - Teachers Make a Difference - Howard Schwartz

The speaker shares their transformative experience with Howard Schwartz, a poetry teacher at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Initially a business major, the speaker took a poetry course on a whim, which opened their eyes to contemporary poetry and changed their life. Despite continuing with business studies, the speaker developed a deep passion for poetry. Years later, they discovered a poem by Schwartz, 'Are Angels', which they had unknowingly admired for years. The transcript concludes with a recitation of this poem.

What was the narrator's initial major in college before taking the poetry course?

• Art

• Literature

• Business

• History

Which poet's work was NOT mentioned as part of Howard Schwartz's course?

• Denise Levertov

• WS Merwin

• Phillip Levine

• Robert Frost

How did the narrator's view of poetry change after taking Schwartz's class?

• They saw it as an ancient art form.

• They believed it was only for academics.

• They viewed it as a contemporary and active art form.

• They thought it was irrelevant.

What did the narrator do after becoming interested in poetry?

• They switched to a literature major.

• They continued with their MBA in finance.

• They pursued a career in poetry.

• They quit business school.

What was the title of the poem by Howard Schwartz that the narrator discovered years later?

• The Branch Will Not Break

• Naked Poetry

• Theater Refugees

• Are Angels