ENG220 started with excitement and overwhelm. From first walking into class (it being my first class at Davidson!), to gathering myself for the first essay, I was ready to get started but nervous. Though poetry has never been my favorite subject, I found myself looking forward to our discussions on the library patio while learning new terms to analyze the poems. For our drama section, Othello proved fun to write on, but I ended up enjoying Speech and Debate the most for its mixture of lighthearted and poignant moments. I already saw it coming, but I had some of my favorite classes discussing the novels of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Hotel World. Surprisingly enough, our recent film section, focusing on The Piano, also proves to be one of my favorite areas for analysis. I don’t know if I would have ever decided to watch it on my own but, as I started the film, I became so intrigued with the layers throughout. I learned the benefit of 150-word responses throughout the semester since I ended up expanding on one for every one of my papers. It did my future self a favor!
As for writing, I’ve really enjoyed the class structure of three short, close analysis essays and one expanded essay. I’ve honed my close reading skills but most importantly gotten more confident in my composure of essay writing. My first paper on a Diane Seuss poem, analyzing the chaos within the form of the poem, nicely reflects my own growth as a writer. On this initial paper Dr. Fackler encouraged me not to tie everything up too cleanly, and I learned–just as I explained about the reader of the Seuss poem– to accept the chaos of the process. Puzzling an essay together I find some snug fitting analysis, but also have more joy in writing when I know not everything needs to work perfectly.
Throughout each section of the class I became more comfortable with my writing style while also constantly searching for places of improvement, whether it be a new idea in analysis or more concise diction. I’m very grateful that I not only had this class as my first from the English department, but that I also had it as one of my first classes at Davidson.
12/06/2022
Jim Holland, “Road to Herring Cove,” oil on canvas,
