Introduction from Dr. Amanda Kellogg, English Professor: Erin Missroon’s essay “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Unravelling Reality” (written for my Honors English 1102 course) offers a thoughtful and sophisticated explication of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppard’s reimagined version of Hamlet. Stoppard’s play, which features non-sequiturs, irony, and unnerving direct addresses to the audience, often proves challenging for students to read and write about, but Erin’s essay shows how thoroughly she has understood and appreciated the eccentricities of this, one of my favorite plays. Arguing that Stoppard constructs an “anti-play,” Erin proposes cogent answers to the question “How does postmodern literature interact with (and possibly change) its audience?” Erin’s reading not only draws on such sophisticated theoretical questions. It also demonstrates mastery of the literary critical vocabulary and the close reading skills I expect from junior- and senior-level English majors. Read her essay here.

By Ben Fuller

Copy Editor, English, ’16

From the 7th through the 15th of January 2015, Professors Dottie Joiner and Margaret Reneke of the LaGrange College art department took a group of thirteen students and six alumni to London, England for a study abroad course about the art and architecture of the richly historic city. While there, we had the opportunity to see many famous sites and artworks, and learned their history and significance. Read more ›

Introduction from Dr. Jack Slay, Professor of English: I’ve enjoyed watching Alexis develop her writing this semester; with each assignment she seems to work a little harder, dig a little deeper. In this essay she explores Heraclitus’ maxim that “character is fate” — and, with the help of a local celebrity, draws some interesting conclusions. Read her essay here.

Introduction from Dr. Laine Scott, Professor of English: Amy Webb, a member of this fall’s honors section of ENGL 1101, was recently asked to write a 2-page paper about a current event. All of Amy’s work so far this semester has been top-notch, and this effort was no exception to that trend. She did exactly what I asked of her, painstakingly conducting research, maintaining sufficient focus for such a short essay, and meticulously proofreading until the finished product was clean, informative, and succinct. Anyone who has ignored the recent news about the Ebola virus can get a decent overview from Amy’s paper. Read her essay here.