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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Sept. 19, 2011)—Marvin Glover, associate professor of mathematics at Milligan College, will present a lecture titled “Mathematics in Literature: It’s not fiction, or is it?” on Monday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. in Hyder Auditorium, located in Milligan’s Science Building. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Glover’s lecture offers a peek into the unexpected treasure of mathematics and creative writing. His insights will reveal the rich history of colorful individuals, surprising intrigue, and imaginative literature to be discovered in the world of mathematics.
“Contrary to popular belief, mathematics is not dull, dry or monotonous, sapping the very life from its scholarly victims,” Glover said. “I hope my lecture will challenge the typical approach to mathematics, evoking a deeper appreciation and even love of the science and art of mathematics.”
The lecture highlights the interconnectedness of literature and mathematics, using examples from famous writers such as American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, who paid homage to the geometry of the Greek mathematician Euclid in her poem “Euclid alone has looked on Beauty bare.”
Glover’s research demonstrates how mathematics is creatively woven into plays, poems, stories and essays.
“Edgar Allan Poe used algebra to throw a pointed critical jab at two writers whose work he deemed inferior,” Glover said. “Carl Sandburg even contributed his own definition of ‘arithmetic.’”
“Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions,”written by Edwin Abbott Abbott, sparked Glover’s interest in the connection between math and literature. This novel uses a two-dimensional world to offer pointed observations on the social hierarchy present in Victorian culture. The novel’s more enduring contribution, however, is its examination of dimensions.
“I cannot remember when I first read Abbott’s ‘Flatland,’but it was a long time ago,” said Glover. “I was enchanted by its tantalizing suggestion of dimensions of existence beyond and below our three dimensions. It seemed to me a type of social satire set in a mathematical context with which all mathematicians, even all students, should be familiar.”
Glover constructed a course at Milligan that covers mathematical literature, prominent individuals in the history of mathematics and milestones in the advancement of the field. His aim is to enable students to creatively combine these factors in the form of an original fictional short story.
“The concrete equation meets the abstraction of beauty. The generalized concept meets the practicality of life. Hopefully, the result is a gestalt experience for our students,” said Glover.
For more information about upcoming events at Milligan, visit www.milligan.edu/arts.