The Book Smart vs. the Tech Savvy

DISCLAIMER: Well the lag in my postings was not due to laziness rather technical difficulties (which we English majors seem to be subjected to more often than not!). I am pleased to say that my blog is now up and running, again, so I will be able to post all of the blogs that I have typed up in Microsoft Word.  To kick things off, here is my blog on my career as an English major:

 

The following is a list of the English classes that I have taken over the past five years, including those of that are in progress:

Fall 2005

English 121W—College Writing I

English 123IS—Introduction to Literary Study

 

Spring 2006

English 212—Biblical/Classical Backgrounds in Literature

English 236—Theory and Methods in Linguistics

 

Fall 2006

English 216—British Literature I

English 218—American Literature I

 

Spring 2007

English 217—British Literature II

 

Fall 2007

English 221—College Writing II

English 300—Survey of Literary Criticism

 

Spring 2008

English 219—American Literature II

English 343—19^th Century British Literature

English 385—History of the English Language

 

Fall 2008

I had originally enrolled in a handful of classes, including Dr. Sexson’s children’s literature course, but I unfortunately became very ill. I withdrew from all of my courses because my health declined so quickly and in a very extreme fashion. I learned that hospitals do not make for good classrooms, and that while it was important to me to obtain my degree, I was not going to do so if I didn’t have my health. That was one of the biggest “Ah!” moments in my life.

 

Spring 2009

English 214—Regional Literature (focus on Montana)

English 342—Restoration/18^th Century British Literature

 

Summer 2009

English 326—Advanced Composition

 

Fall 2009

Literature 324—16^th/17^th Century British Literature

Literature 414—Literature of Place (focus on the American West)

Literature 440—Studies in World Literature

 

Spring 2010

Literature 233—Classical Foundations of Literature

Literature 337—Oral Traditions

Literature 420—Critical Theory

Literature 494—Seminar: Research Issues

 

 

Thanks to a wide variety of course materials, I have been exposed to what I would think is a pretty well rounded assortment of writing. There have been classes that have influenced me more than others, and the same can be said for texts, as well. Here is a brief and rather informal analysis of a few of those:

 

The Penguin Guide to English Literature: Britain and Ireland—this was the first book that I bought from the MSU bookstore. I actually bought it the weekend of orientation, the summer before my freshman year. I was so excited to major in English being the daughter of a graduate Yale’s English program, and the granddaughter of a highly accomplished grandmother who held bachelors and masters in both English and Latin and went on to teach. I also have aunts and uncles who have specialized in the same field, so it was no surprise that my passions laid there.  The book itself is a very broad overview of the study of literature, but it gave me a taste of what was ahead of me!

 

“Six Walks in the Fictional Woods” by Umberto Eco—This was a lecture series that Umberto Eco presented at Harvard. My instructor for English 123 actually went to the lecture series and admitted that the content was difficult to understand, and that even she was unable to grasp it in its entirety. The first time I read the book I became frustrated, so I read it again…and again… and again, and I never quite got it; however, I was able to find out that this book could alleviate the pain of other situations, and so when I was upset in other areas of my life, I would read Eco. Oh wait, I still do.

 

A History of the English Language—This was the textbook that was required for English 385, and it lead me to become infatuated with the English language. I graduated from being an English major who reads books for understanding, enlightenment, and enjoyment (etc) to being an English major who read an appreciated all of the history behind the words themselves. I also found that I love Old English for its raw beauty. The English language is ever changing, thus the way we read changes as well. This book helped me step back and learn to read in a different way.

 

Other books, which have inspired me, include: “The Elizabethan World Picture” by  E.M.W. Tillyard, “Verbivore’s Feast” by Chrysti the Wordsmith (LOVE HER NPR SHOW!), and the Oxford English Dictionary.