I’m sorry if I can only open this with a cliché, but it just seemed like yesterday when I walked for the first time in my English Class. Because the time flew by so quickly, it is hard for me fathom the amount of material we covered in English this semester. The course was appropriately introduced with Plato’s Republic and The Matrix, as we little, unexposed freshman were first introduced to the “light” of this new college world. We learned the “search for truth” theme not only through the Republic and The Matrix, but in different contexts through the perspective of a black slave in Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave and also through the eyes of Pentheus in Euripides’ Bacchae. In the study of the Bacchae, I also learned of the Apollonian and Dionysian sides that have been and still are pervasive in nature, humans, politics, music, teenagers, education, and much more. These ideas of opposite spectrums were displayed through the magnificent piano playing of Dr. Mark Zeltser. The following text Sophocles’ Electra helped remind me how frustrating it is to be exposed to constant complaining, but at the same time, I learned that justice is always served. The play was very enjoyable, and it helped me understand a better background of the play.
We took a big leap from Greece to England and studied the process of poetic and character analysis in Shakespeare’s Henry V. We were fortunate enough to see this play brought to life when by one of the country’s leading Shakespeare companies. The poetic study of Henry V nicely led into the study and interpretation of C.K. Williams Selected Poems, in which each poem carries significant symbols and styles. Listening to C.K. Williams speak was an added bonus. We nicely made a transition to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein during the week of Halloween. I gained better of understanding of the book when I watched the various Frankenstein movies that were showing that week. In this novel, I learned themes of good vs. evil, creator vs. creation, and society vs. individual. We finally closed the semester with my favorite text Maus by Art Spiegalman. The comic book setup with its vivid images, I feel, was the best portrayal of a firsthand view of the Holocaust. This text was supported by a guest speaker Holocaust survivior Rose Van Thyn, who verified the horrid events of this tragedy.
In addition to analyzing these texts, we learned how to write argumentative essays with the Toulmin model of argumentation and create webpages. I have to give major props to Professor Strange for providing the opportunity for me to improve my writing skills through weekly journals and paper assignments, and for allowing me to find the beauty of HTML at the same time. Overall, I know that the English texts and corresponding FYE events expanded my horizons on knowledge and life in general.