letters

Dear Marlen,

At the beginning of this English course, you promised that we would “go where no English class has gone before,” and I must say you have been true to your word. The topics that are first delved into initially appeared slightly mundane, especially with the bunny book, Watership Down. However, as time passed and we learned more about the hero’s journey, new contrast began generating within my memories every of story I’ve ever read and every cinematic work I’ve watched. I don’t think I’ve ever so quickly learned about analytic topics so readily applicable to life and art in any class I have previously taken.

I’ve been surprise, to say the least, about what I have been able to learn about myself through monomythic breakdown of life events, characteristics, and behaviors. In writing my midterm paper, I began to see much of my past from a whole new light, and what’s more, from a perspective that offers self-scrutinizing feedback. The hero’s journey has proved to be an incredible base to which I can now relate every storyline and life journey; even lyrical work. I plan to continue to study it after this class ends this winter.

I personally need to address some of my apprehension toward blogging and really just answer the assigned questions and stop stressing out about them. I think blogging is an unconventional, cool way to illustrate one’s understanding for course material, and is certainly an approach that better relates to our generation than some traditional methods. Part of my own hesitation toward blogging is that the whole open-for-public viewing thing is a bit new to me. I’m not even a big fan of MySpace and Facebook for similar reasons. I think I can work through it though; anyways, I have to if I don’t want to fail.

I think in general, you have some excellent ideas, Marlen. You’re an enthusiastic professor who isn’t afraid of the untraditional and relates to your students exceptionally well. It’s unfortunate that IUP will be losing you as an educator after this semester. I look forward to the remainder of the class’s journey with you and the rest of the class.

Sincerely,

Alex Bonini

Dear Marlen,

First and foremost, thank you for choosing such rich novels for us to read in this course. The Color Purple was beautiful in so many ways; so colorful in terms of different character types. And though oppressive, it managed to be noble and profound simultaneously. Siddhartha was rich with culture and tribulations. I think I related to the novel so well because of all the endings and new beginnings in siddhartha’s life. He frequented the creator and destroyer archetypes. It was intriguing to examine the ways he found peace. Middlesex was just out of this world. There was so much action once you got into it, it was like a race to the end. Except it sucked when the race was over because the characters can’t continue their journey through my mind. Ican still somewhat vividly remember my first sexual adventures and escapades, so it’s easy to relate strongly with those first primal drives Caliope deals with. Without the assigned novels, I would have read absolutely nothing that conveyed any passion or evocative imagery this semester. It was truly difficult to put each novel down until each was finished.

This semester was pretty terrible though and I know I managed to miss quite a few classes. For that I am absolutely sorry. I know you regard that as disrespectful, but I meant no such thing. I dealt with a couple rough weeks of less-than-elevated mood and I was unfortunate to have missed any of your classes. It seemed like as soon as I got into Middlsex, I started to have some better days and started rising up out of the slump. It worked pretty well.

The 101 Great American Poems book was pretty sweet. I picked it up one afternoon and kept reading it through the evening until I had torn apart almost every last poem. There were some exceptions such as The Emperor of Ice Cream- I’m clueless on that one. Otherwise the poems seemed to carry me away to another time and place often guided by delicate, rocking verse. In The Day Is Done, Longfellow weathers his long day and then suggests retiring to poetry reading for relaxation by evening. The symbolism and imagery characteristic of poetry work so well to carry one’s thoughts elsewhere. I, too am growing to love it.

This class overall I think has helped bring some of me back to life. You got me doing a little more drawing again and even reading poetry in free time. That is no easy task, sir. You’ve helped keep creativity and literature awake inside me. Thank you for everything.

Sincerely,

Alex