A Boring Story

 

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nce upon a time, a literature class was studying Shakespeare. “The next play we’ll read,” said the teacher, “is Hamlet. As with Shakespeare’s other tragedies, we’ll find a mix of serious drama, comedy, philosophy, psychology, and more.”

“I just love these plays,” said a student, taking notes on her laptop.

“He really knows how to explore human nature,” said another student, cleaning his glasses.

“Shakespeare is boring,” said a red-haired girl.

In a few days, the class discussed the play. “What stood out to you about the play?” asked the teacher.

“The gravedigger scene was hilarious,” said one student.

“I liked the ‘to-be-or-not-to-be’ soliloquy,” said another.

“The play was boring,” said the red-haired girl.

“Okay, class,” the teacher continued. “In order to get some deeper insights into the play, you’re going to give me a five-page paper responding to one of these six topics. It’s due in two weeks.” The teacher handed out a sheet with the topics on it.

After looking over the topics, one student said to those around her, “I like all of these. How am I going to choose? I wonder if we can write on more than one?”

Another student raised his hand and asked, “Is it okay if we write more than five pages? It seems to me that there’s a lot to say on several of these topics.”

“All these topics are boring,” said the red-haired girl.

“You can’t find any of them at all of interest?” asked the teacher.

“No. They are just boring.”

“Then why don’t you write a five-page essay on ‘What is interesting’?”

“Sounds boring,” muttered the red-haired girl under her breath.

 

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X Those who are easily bored expect the world to offer constant excitements to them on a platter.

X Those who are seldom bored use their curiosity to find their own excitement.

X Those who are easily bored are not necessarily lazy, proud, and unintelligent, but that is what others often think.

 

 

Questions for Thought and Discussion

1. Discuss with others what things, subjects. or entertainments you find interesting and which  you find boring. For each one, can you explain why?

2. If you had to write a five-page essay on “What is interesting?” what would you say?

3. Over time, have you changed your mind or your interests so that some things you used to find boring you now find interesting, and some things you used to find interesting you now find boring? How do  you account for the changes?