The Case of the Missing Hale

By Megan Carlson    

Rob Hale, one out of many wonderful English professors here at Monmouth College and long-time admirer of William Wordsworth, has seemed to disappear this semester.  Where did he go?  What has he been doing?  This information all became clear to me when I sat down to have a chat with the illustrious man.  Hale has been on sabbatical this past semester.  Instead of hopping on the next plane out of Monmouth, he decided to stay here on campus to work on many projects that he had in mind.  While teaching, he had to put off these projects until there was more time to devote to them, and devote he did.  He has been working hard to publish articles, research topics interesting to him, and propose a new minor for Monmouth College.

     Hale explained that when publishing an article, you submit your work and are either accepted or rejected.  Sometimes journal editors will allow you to make substantial revisions and return it, but other times you have to find a new publisher if it is rejected.  Hale has submitted articles that deal mainly with Wordsworth and the Romantics.  One article is on "The Emigrant Mother", a poem by William Wordsworth, and another article is a psychological analysis of "The Mad Mother", a poem also by Wordsworth.  He also wrote an article on a class that he taught on the Romantics.  In this class, he used entire books rather than anthologies to have his students read.  Examples included Lyrical Ballads, "Don Juan", a collection of Keats poems, and writings by Hemans.  This class went particularly well, causing Hale to write an article about why this class was so successful.  He has also worked with Steve Price on a website/textbook that will focus on helping students write about literature.

link to the poem, "The Emigrant Mother":

Wordsworth, William. 1888. Complete Poetical Works.

link to the poem, "The Mad Mother":

William Wordsworth's poem: The Mad Mother

    Another important project that Hale has been working on is the 19th century studies minor.  This proposal calls for an integration of many studies here at Monmouth College.  History, Spanish, English, art, theatre, music, and religious studies are just a few examples of the broad and varied type of learning one would receive with this minor.  The idea came from a conversation about three years ago, and Hale finally was able to act on it with the sabbatical.  Many professors from other majors and minors are working together with Hale to propose this minor for future Monmouth students.

   Next semester Hale will teach four classes, so you will be sure to see him.  He is teaching a Romantics class again, but in a completely different style, adding a gothic novel and a collection of gothic art.  He also is teaching Senior Seminar on revolutionary books next semester.  Students will read Wordsworth's Lyrical Ballads, Whitman's Leaves of Grass, Woolf's To The Lighthouse, Hughes' Fine Clothes To The Jew, Fowle's The French Lieutenant's Woman, and Plath's "Ariel".  British Survey 2 and English 110 will be his constant companions as well.  During spring semester he plans on integrating many more visuals into the classroom.  He believes that there are obvious parallels between poetry and fiction.  He also knows that we are a visual generation, and that seeing helps students to learn.  To help him learn more about art, he has been working with a database called Artstor.  This database has a large collection of pictures that contain art and architecture.  To check out the database, follow this link: http://www.artstor.org

   So as you can see, Rob Hale was actually not in hiding, but very busy this semester on sabbatical.  He told me that he already has plans for his next sabbatical in seven years.  Although he did enjoy his time off from teaching, Hale has missed the interaction and instruction with students in the classroom.  Well, Rob Hale, we have missed you too.        

   Hale would like to thank all the librarians for their generous help.  The librarians gave Hale a space to work and also worked hard to get Interlibrary Loans fast from other sources.  The librarians are also here to help students, so be sure to take advantage of their help and advice if you are researching in the library.

link to library:  http://department.monm.edu/library/default.htm

Finals Frustration?

 By Anne Stone

As the semester comes to a close and finals lurk around every corner, there seems to be a great deal of stress hanging over the heads of students at Monmouth College.  While it is normal for students to feel final exam anxiety during this time of year, English students seem to be feeling overwhelmed this semester.  After speaking with several classmates, it became apparent that the majority of the majors feel this immense stress.  Most English majors in the past weeks have abandoned all usual hobbies in exchange for paper-writing, required reading, and studying.  While not a seasoned veteran in the world of college finals, here are a few common tips that can help any English major get through finals week:

1.) Getting plenty sleep is vital in remembering key facts on exams.  While staying up late cramming facts is common for college students, it is hard to recall facts from The Canterbury Tales or Emerson without sleep. 

2.) Take a break from anything intellectual.  As the most intelligent majors on campus, it is safe to say that time away from academia is in order so long as that break stays within the boundaries of reason.  No one is advocating a break that lasts throughout all of finals week.

3.) Venture to the Huff Athletic Center.  Working out may not seem like a relaxing activity, but physical exercise actually releases endorphins in the brain, producing pleasant feelings and a relaxed mindset.

4.)  Reading a book for fun is one of the best ways to relax and de-stress.  Removing oneself from his/her own life and jumping into an enjoyable plot and setting can be the perfect escape for an English major.

5.) When studying, study where focus and concentration will be at their highest.  Some experts say that soft, classical music allows students to study well, but others say absolute quiet promotes the best environment.  Ultimately, each individual knows what tactics work best for him/her.  Be sure to utilize the space needed to perform well.

6.) Did someone say 'procrastination'?  That is doubtful; everyone knows that English Majors don't procrastinate.  As a final tip, it usually works well to study before the day of a final, and writing an essay the night before the final draft is due will not necessarily secure the highest grade.

Finals week will most-likely involve some type of stress, but if a large magnitude of test anxiety can be avoided, every English major will find a blossoming creative mind and hopefully, an A on your final. 

"As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensive, but more mysterious." ~Will Durant

- Durant

"Our aspirations are our possibilities" ~Robert Browning

- Browning

 "Readers may be divided into four classes: 1. Sponges, who absorb all that
they read and return it in nearly the same state, only a little dirtied. 2.
Sand-glasses, who retain nothing and are content to get through a book for
the sake of getting through the time. 3. Strain-bags, who retain merely the
dregs of what they read. 4. Mogul diamonds, equally rare and valuable, who
profit by what they read, and enable others to profit by it also."                   

~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge

-Coleridge

 "That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way." ~ Doris Lessing

 -Lessing

 

The Writing Corner

Of Fish

By Anonymous

The Fish

They were supposed to be the focus of the picture

A proud declaration of our success

A stringful of eight-pound bass

Is all that I saw.

A five year-old rough draft of myself,

And my dad, and the fish.

I could see it now.

Could he see it then?

The picture was never about the fish.

He did know.

Its in his forever frozen eyes.

The cold, clear water blue in his eyes

Exposes a far greater truth

Than a bountiful catch.

It speaks of a father and a son,

And all the fish they soon won't be reeling in.

Speaks of a father and his only son,

And the fish that are symbolic at best.

There is nothing in the picture,

Now that I really look,

But his telling eyes

And what they see in the future.

Was it a reflex that caused his eyes to betray him?

Or was it that he actually saw the fish,

And what they meant

To a father and his son.

That was the last of the pictures of fish,

And part of a dwindling number

Of a father and his son

But its not too late for another picture

Of that father

And of that son

And of fish.

Padme to Anakin

Sarah Sherry

*This is a parody of a Heroides style letter.  It was written for a Star Wars and Greek Mythology class.

Your Padme sends this letter to you, her absent Anakin,

A message from a droid will not do; return to me my love.

The Force does not need you, there are other Jedis ---

Dooku cannot possibly still have power.

How I wish that Sith had been decapitated by a lightsaber

while in his battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi!

Then I would not have had to lie in my maternity bed alone, or have

complained of passing morning sickness,

or worried that evil doers from the Empire

were coming to kill me and our unborn child.

Tell me, when did I not fear you would turn to the dark side?

A Jedi’s love in one that’s full of anxious fears.

I envisioned clones and Siths about to make a rush at you;

At every mention of Darth Sidious’s name I grew faint.

If someone recounted how Mace Windu was subdued by Sidious,

Mace was the reason for my fears.

In time our child will be born into this world (provided I am kept safe)

but our child should have the presence of its father.

I would like to think I have the strength and courage to drive the

   Emperor away.

You must return to me.  You are my protector and lover.

You will have a child, who needs your tender love

and if a boy, will grow up to be like his father.

Have regard for your unborn child.  I hold off giving labor,

hoping that you will be here to witness this miracle.

As for me, I was a powerful woman before we met.

But I loved you, and you must return to us.

Anne Stone
astone@monm.edu