Van Hartmann - Teachers Make a Difference - Thomas Stumpf

The speaker reflects on the profound influence of Tom Stumpf, a dissertation director and advisor, who integrated his love for literature into his life. Through Thanksgiving gatherings, summer reading groups, and social discussions, Tom demonstrated that literature is a lived experience. His approach inspired the speaker to view literature as more than an academic subject, but as a part of life. Tom's ability to recite poetry from memory and his love for rituals left a lasting impact, teaching that being a professor involves living with and through literature.

What subject did the narrator initially plan to major in before being influenced by Tom Stumpf?

• Modern poetry

• Medieval literature

• Greek and Latin classics

• 18th-century British literature

How did Tom Stumpf make Thanksgiving special for the narrator and other students?

• By giving them extra reading assignments

• By hosting them for a meal and games

• By taking them on a cultural trip

• By organizing literature seminars

What activity did Tom Stumpf organize every summer for his students?

• A Greek or Latin reading group

• A poetry writing workshop

• A modern literature conference

• A medieval literature symposium

In which book did the narrator first find their own name?

• Nabokov's Ada

• Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

• Pope's The Dunciad

• Shakespeare's Sonnets

What did Tom Stumpf's background contribute to his teaching style?

• A focus on modern poetry

• A love of ritual and language

• A strict adherence to academic rules

• An emphasis on scientific research

What was one of the key lessons the narrator learned from Tom Stumpf?

• Literature is a solitary pursuit

• Literature is best appreciated in isolation

• Literature should be lived and integrated into life

• Literature is only for academic study

Where did Tom Stumpf grow up, as mentioned in his memoir?

• New York City

• South Saint Louis

• North Carolina

• Paris