REFLECTION

Throughout my entire history of education, English has always been one of my strong, more favorable subjects.  Throughout high school, and into my first semester of college, however, I did continue to learn a lot.  Taking English 102, has not only improved my writing, but allowed for me to have a better understanding on literature and how authors write to inspire.  With works such as Faulkner’s short stories, and poems made in the Romanticism era, literature has taken a bigger toll on life through my eyes.  The class mainly inspired me to look into more works of literature, and allowed me to want to minor in English in college.  It’s quite transparent, that taking the class, with my particular professor, did impact me to enjoy the subject much more.

             One of my preferred points of the semester with the class was learning about different short stories and the literary devices that they consist of.  Of the many short story authors, works from William Faulkner and Herman Melville did strike as key interests to me.  While reading Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” I enjoyed a variety of different symbolic features and other literary devices.  I learned the difference between whether a narrator is reliable or not, and how it may affect the story.  With Melville’s narration in “Bartleby,” my understanding of the subject further progressed to a point where I now enjoy the difference of reliable narrators and unreliable.  These short stories, as well as the many others we read, and the amount of time the class spent on them, definitely allowed me to grow as a thinker.  It makes me wonder how stories could take on such different meanings when you write with different use of narration.  Discovering this and authors’ use of literary devices in short stories, represent a clear evaluation of learning and even writing.  My writing has certainly changed, because these situations make you think carefully to write in a way that’s completely understandable to the reader; it shows them the way you want them to see things.  With all this, it is evident that the subject of short stories is essential in learning literature and its significance. 

            Another central point of English 102, was the subject of romanticism; particularly poetry.  I have certainly gained a major interest in the writing of poetry because of the symbolic points shown through the era of romanticism.  I, not only was exposed to good poetry, but now understand the meaning of it all so much better.  With the curriculum, the poems we covered really highlighted the importance of the era of romanticism.  For the most part, Emily Dickinson, William Wordsworth, and Robert Frost, all elaborated poetry’s wonders.  The strategic use of nature and emotion create a vibe so beautiful and interesting.  I have taken with me, the idea of writing poetry in a symbolic sort of way; making me actually enjoy writing poetry.  The class opened my eyes to true poetry that has bettered my writing.  I am completely appreciative of the subject of romanticism and learning what it is these poets were trying to portray. 

            All in all, my views on literature and its components have absolutely changed with the experience of English 102.  My writing, while not changing drastically, only got better and more interesting for me.  As a writer, and above all, a thinker, I have grown drastically because of specific works of literature, whether it be short stories or poetry.  These are the two things I enjoyed most about English 102 and its syllabus.  As far as 5 years from now, I believe that the class will still hold importance to my writing and thinking; based off of the major impact it has had.  I want to continue on with my major, but would love to minor in English, because of the viewpoints this class provided me.  Combined, the main aspects of the class that I will take with me for years to come, are the revealing beauties of poetry, and the difference between narrators in short stories.