Critical Introduction to Literature

 ENGL 2600-042

Instructor: Stephanie Maenhardt

Spring 2013 Semester

 In Critical Introduction to Literature, we were assigned an essay to assess a piece of poetry we had read at that point in the past.  I chose "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. "Yellow Wallpaper" is a well known piece of literature addressing many latent and obvious flaws in the way society treats women.  In this poem, I addressed the idea Gilman brings into light that women may be put an a grand pedestal in humanity, but on top of that pedestal is a cage.  The slow slip into insanity the woman in the story experiences brings to light that putting women on a pedestal, separating them from the rest of the free world of men will cause them to live no life at all.  I thoroughly enjoyed this poem, which addressed social issues we still face today.  

British Literature pre-1800

ENGL 2610-002 

Instructor: Nathan Gorelick 

Spring 2013 Semester

 In Professor Gorelick's class, we discussed British Literature before 1800, starting with the first known written text- Beowulf.  We matured into the Canterbury Tales, and so on.  Our knowledge was tested by passage identification, inserting quotes, and identifying author's place in British Literature before 1800. 

 World Literature

ENGL 376G-601 

Instructor: Kirk Rasmussen

Spring 2013 Semester

Professor Rasmussen led us through world Literature- beginning with The Odyssey, leading on through the Iliad, and ending with Dante's Inferno.  This class was mainly lecture-based, but in a way where Professor Rasmussen's knowledge on the subject of world literature was easily absorbed and unpacked in discussions within this class. I truly gained an understanding of some of the most important writings in world literature. 

Modern American Literature

ENGL 3530-601

Instructor: Robert Carney 

Fall 2013 Semester

In professor Carney's class, we discussed chiefly about tendencies in modern American literature and it's authors writing styles.  We 

read poetry and short stories from Hemingway, Frost, Welty and Williams to name a few, consistently valuing existentialism in 

each author's writings. We were asked to write responses based on these modern tendencies, below being an example of my 

response to Eudora Welty's poetry and short stories.  

Contemporary American Literature

ENGL 3540-601 

Instructor: John Goshert

Fall 2013 Semester

In Professor Goshert's class, we read from a variety of contemporary American texts ranging from 1970-present.  Each text identified with a different contemporary tendency, constantly breaking barriers of tradition and style while mixing old themes with new problems. We were asked to write reading responses to each novel we took on in class.  Our readings ranged from Toni Morrison, Don Delillo, Kathy Acker, and Ng.  Below is an example of my reading response to Kathy Acker's, "Don Quixote".  

Literary Genres: Drama

ENGL 412-R-001

Instructor: Robert Carney

Spring 2014 Semester

Literary Genres, at UVU, is a special topic-based class that changes from semester to semester.  Spring 2014 chose to focus on the literary genres of drama and theater.  This class required us to read international theater pieces.

I was assigned with my group to give a presentation on a modern/contemporary play write and one work.

As a group, we immediately chose August Wilson's "Fences"

Restoration and 18th Century British Literature

ENGL 3640

Instructor: Nathan Gorelick

Fall 2014 Semester

Nathan Gorelick delved into the depths of 18th Century British Literature in a way no other instructor would be able. Independent reading assignments included but were not limited to texts discussing the literary production conditions of the time, introduction to The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century 1660-1785, texts of 18th c. religion and politics, texts presenting the 18th c. context of ideas, Oroonoko by Aphra Behn, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift.