The Swimmer
Submitted by Sandi and Ray Albertson-Shea (profile)

Title and Author: The Swimmer by John Cheever
Genre: Short story
Themes: Impact of alcohol on the life of the alcoholic and those around him/her; inability to see the truth/reality
Class type: Men - a variety of ages - most with chemical dependency or domestic violence issues
Strategy: Taught along with some poetry by Sharon Olds and Raymond Carver

The Cheever story needs some prep work at the previous class. The surrealism is initially frustrating for immature readers. However, by the end of the discussion, the story is almost always viewed positively by students. This class might begin with a look at some of Sharon Olds' poetry dealing with her alcoholic father: "I Go Back to May 1937," "The Guild," and "Saturn." When we turn to the Cheever story, after some whole-group discussion of major elements, we break into small groups for discussion of specific assigned questions.

Back as a whole after a break, groups share their answers to one or two questions that they have selected to report on. We often show a small video clip from a Raymond Carver PBS documentary in which he reads the poem: "Photograph of My Father." Then we discuss three more of Carver's poems: "To My Daughter," "Gravy," and "Late Fragment." The last 20 minutes of the class are spent doing reflective writing from a list of suggested topics, with oral sharing (optional) after everyone has finished writing.

Questions: Suggested initial whole-group questions for The Swimmer:

Setting: Time and place
Timeframe: How long does this story take?

Small-group topics: Divided - usually three questions per group:

--Adjectives to describe Neddy Merrill
--Neddy's goal/project when he leaves the Westerhazys' pool
--Neddy's attitude/philosophy about swimming
--Interactions with owners of pools that Neddy swims in: Grahams, Levys, Lindleys, Welches
--References to time
--Changes after the storm
--Interactions with other pool owners: Lancaster public pool, Hollorans, Sachs, Biswangers
--Evidence that the summer season has turned to autumn
--Response of Neddy's former mistress to his arrival
--Changes in Neddy's physical condition and behavior as story ends
--References to money
--The role of alcohol in the story
--Signs that Neddy has lost social status
--Your explanation for Neddy's discovery at the conclusion of the story

Whole-group topics: After small-group feedback:

--What's really going on with this guy?
--What do we learn about Neddy at each swimming stop?
--What facts/truths has he not acknowledged?

Writing prompts: Write about one of the following:

--The effects of alcohol on the lives of those around the person who is drinking.
--A time when someone you know was so caught up in a world of alcohol or drugs that this person could not see what was happening around him/her.
--A time when you so repressed unpleasant facts that you damaged your sense of the truth.
--Like Carver or Olds, speak the truth to a photo of one of your parents.