"Gryphon" by Charles Baxter

1. How is Ms. Ferenzci a gryphon?

 First of all, gryphon is a different spelling of griffin. Both of them mean a mythical creature with a lions body and an eagle's head. It is a made up creature made up from many people's imaginations. Miss Ferenzci has the tendency to tell the children many things that aren't true. This is an example of how she is a "gryphon",  because she lives half in the real world and half in the imaginary world.

2. How does the point of view of the story (told as a memory of recollection) change the way you view the themes and/or characters?

The story is told in point of view of a man looking back at his childhood, specifically Ms. Ferenzci's substituting. This changes the view of the story because a grownup has a totally different aspect on things than a child. If it was told in the point of view of a child, the view would be more childish and less mature. I think this is told as a memory of a recollection because grownups seem to have more logically thinking when it comes to these things. Also, as a grownup the narrator had a long time to think about that memory and what to make of it. If it was told in point of view as a child, the narration would probably be more confused and blatantly say that the substitute was crazy, whereas the narrator (grown up) seems to think that Ms. Ferenzci is not exactly crazy, but maybe has a different way of teaching and/or a different outlook on the world which affects her teaching.