Mr. Lytle: An Essay

• How does Mr. Lytle come across to you as a reader of the essay? How does Sullivan bring him alive?
• What seems to be Sullivan's attitude toward Lytle? 
• What does this essay seem to say about art or making art or the writing life? 
• Why does it open and close with such detail about the making of the coffin?

1] Sullivan brings Mr. Lytle alive by characterizing him as both a wise sage but also detailing detailing facets if him, including his longing for physical affection and that his teachings could be nonsensical. In doing so he creates a three dimensional character lacking the sugar coating that can often occur in an homage.

2] Sullivan is both in awe of the potential that comes from studying beneath a great but comes to love him not for that, his affections towards him are mostly due to the uniqueness of the situation and the senility of Mr. Lytle, and recalls him remembering something that did not happen to him but had happened in literature. His fondness for him reminds me of that which you would have for a grand parent.

4] The craftsmanship of making a coffin is much like that of making art and apprenticing that Sullivan receives.