Caroline Wallace ‘23

Features Editor

Last Wednesday, April, 26, the English Honors Program presented their theses to their families, friends, and members of the English Department. Presentations were followed by a fifteen-minute Question and Answers session. Christian Barkman ‘23 presented his thesis that focused on John Milton’s Paradise Lost. In his thesis, Barkman supports and counters the claims of other English scholars in regard to the angelic hierarchy that exists within the epic. Isabella Sampino ‘23 presented her creative thesis entitled “Two Blankets: Poems from the Hospital” which is a collection of poems that revolve around doctor/patient interactions in hospital settings as well as the individual experiences of health care professionals and patients. She combined her passions for the medical field, English, and Spanish to create beautiful bi-lingual poems that draw heavily on the various emotions one experiences during their time in the hospital. 

Amanda Vierra ‘23 presented her thesis “Angel of Many Houses: Reconciling Domesticity in 19th Century” in which she focuses on Victorian Literature alongside prominent historical figures of the time. Through doing this, Vierra discusses the many nuances of domestic life during the Victorian Period and how it offered women the ability to be leaders and changemakers within their designated sphere. I presented my thesis on “Triangulated Desire in Irish Literature” which focuses on the various ways that Irish Fiction depicts triangulated relationships and how over time, love triangles have not only become more prominent, but more accepted. 

Grace Bromage ‘23 focused on dystopian literature to highlight the ways it depicts women’s bodily autonomy. She presented the second half of her thesis during the Academic Conference in which she focused on Dawn by Octavia Butler. John Sager ‘23 used film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice in order to show the various ways that Mr. Darcy’s masculinity was depicted. Sloane Larsen ‘23 discussed why To Kill a Mockingbird and The Bluest Eye should be taught in tandem in the high school education systems. Brianna Fisher ‘23 drew on her experience of student teaching in order to reimagine the traditional classroom. She discussed how she taught writing to her students through the framework of music such as Hip-Hop and Blues in order to have more class engagement. She displayed her student’s work and explained how in relating their work to music, students became more engaged and more efficient writers. 

The day was a great way to celebrate the hard work of the English Honors Program. The program is advised by Professor Haley Madigan who has worked alongside the colloquium throughout the whole year, offering advice and assistance when necessary. He has been a source of positivity and encouragement and the students of the English Honors Program are very thankful for all that he has done for them.