Deconstructing the Crossword: Delving Deep into Literary Lineage
Another day, another grid! And today’s crossword is serving up some particularly juicy clues. One, in particular, has snagged my attention: “Writer who studied under William Strunk Jr. at Cornell.”
Now, on the surface, this looks straightforward enough. We’re searching for an author, ideally one with some significant literary cachet, who had the distinct privilege of learning from the legendary William Strunk Jr. But, as any seasoned crossword solver knows, the seemingly simple clues often harbor the most intricate layers.
Let’s dissect this thing.
The key here lies in the dual facets of the clue: “Writer” and “studied under William Strunk Jr. at Cornell.” Both elements are crucial and significantly narrow the field of potential answers. We can’t just blindly list famous writers. We NEED that Strunk connection, that Cornell pedigree.
William Strunk Jr., of course, is far from a household name to the average person. But among writers, editors, and grammarians, he’s practically a deity. He’s best known as the co-author (with E.B. White) of “The Elements of Style,” a slim but mighty guide to English usage that has shaped generations of writers. Think of Strunk as the ultimate arbiter of clarity and conciseness.
Therefore, finding a writer who studied under him isn’t merely about identifying someone who attended his lectures; it’s about finding someone likely deeply influenced by his philosophies on writing. This person likely imbibed Strunk’s emphasis on directness, precision, and the active voice. Their writing style, at least in its formative years, likely reflected Strunk’s core tenets.
Then we have the Cornell aspect. Cornell University, an Ivy League institution, has a rich literary history. Considering the clue specifies studying “under” Strunk, we’re likely looking at someone who attended Cornell during the period when Strunk was a professor there. That timeframe provides a crucial boundary. We’re talking about roughly the late 19th and early to mid-20th century.
So, the search is on for a writer who attended Cornell during Strunk’s tenure and, importantly, was influenced by his teachings. This influence might manifest in the writer’s prose style, thematic choices, or even in anecdotal accounts of their relationship with Strunk.
The interesting part is to think about the ways the answer might hide.
Could the author be known primarily for a different genre than Strunk championed? Perhaps a poet or playwright who, despite their chosen form, still carries the hallmarks of Strunk’s influence in their command of language? Or, could the influence be more subtle, showing up in the writer’s editorial practices rather than the initial drafting phase?
Crossword clues, especially those with literary allusions, often require us to think outside the box. They challenge us to connect seemingly disparate pieces of information and arrive at a singular, definitive answer. This clue is no different. It demands a knowledge of literary history, an appreciation for stylistic nuances, and a willingness to delve into the biographies and works of potential candidates.
Therefore, think carefully about who was at Cornell and who worked closely with Strunk. What type of writer where they?
Happy puzzling!
Available Answers:
EBWHITE.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Friday’s Daily By Kyle Beakley & David Levinson Wilk / Ed. Patti Varol