U.K. Study Abroad, 2015: A Graduate Student's Perspective

In May 2015, three English Literature graduate students traveled abroad to United Kingdom to begin four weeks of study at Edge Hill University in Lancashire, England. The following is a stateside reflection of the trip written by Danielle Cope.


This summer, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to study British Literature in the context of an English university and its surrounding countryside. Led by our intrepid travel guides (and professors!) Dr. Jo Miller and Dr. Jim Persoon, we earned a total of six credit hours in two seminars: ENG 603 (British Literature in Context) and ENG 661 (Author/Topic Seminar). Each week our class studied a major British author from distinct time periods and genres: William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, Charles Dickens, and Carol Ann Duffy. We shared our classroom with nine undergraduate students. This blended atmosphere gave the graduate students the opportunity to lead class discussions and present our research to the undergraduates.


Graduate Study Abroad
Grad Student Ashley Zirkle

Graduate student Ashley Zirkle hiked 251 meters to Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland

Graduate Study Abroad

Edge Hill Campus

University building viewed from the central hub on campus

We lived and studied at Edge Hill University in the village of Ormskirk, a market town whose royal charter dates back to the 12th century. The University opened in 1885 as a teaching institution for women. The school colors of green, purple and gold refer to the insignia of the women's suffrage movement in England.

 

Fostering creativity was an integral part of our professors’ pedagogical approach. We were encouraged to find inspiration in lyrics by the Beatles, write and share poetry, use our own photography in presentations, and to perform scenes from Shakespeare. In addition to this classroom experience, we undertook four excursions to contextualize the literature we studied. These trips included visits to Liverpool, Manchester, the Lake District and Stratford-upon-Avon, where we had the opportunity to see Othello performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. We were free to travel on weekends and so we made it to both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. Of course, mid-week trips to Liverpool were also often made--just a £5 train ticket away!

 

Once back in the U.S., we were given eight weeks to compile our research into term papers, which we presented to our class in a conference. The following is a list of the graduate students' project titles:

  • “‘Drifting Icebergs’: Alienation in Charles Dickens’ Hard Times” by Danielle Cope

  • Wuthering Heights: Those Mystic, Moody Moors” by Susanna Lankheet

  • “The Use of Music in Shakespeare's Othello and Much Ado About Nothing” by Ashley Zirkle

The Lake District

Graduate student Susanna Lankheet and Professor Jo Miller explore the fabled Lake District


Rylands Library

Graduate student and "Perspective" author, Danielle Cope, at the John Ryland's Library in Manchester, England

 

 

“You Okay?” Learn to speak Scouse, eat prawn cocktail crisps, and find out the secret of the Liver birds by applying for the 2016 study abroad program! You can find out more about this exciting program offered by the English Department here. Cheers!



Page last modified October 14, 2015