Author Archives: leickmeyer

If I had the opportunity to teach any piece of literature from this course, I would choose to teach the selection from Decolonizing the Mind, by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o.  Britain’s colonial empire was quite extensive, and their culture pervasive, disrupting the life and culture of millions of people over decades of rule. I think thatContinue reading “Teaching “Decolonizing the Mind””

Margret Oliphant’s The Rector is an ideal example of Victorian realism. Victorian realism is defined as centering on everyday experiences, the inner struggle of an individual, the emphasis or redefinition of morals, as well as the connection between an individual and their greater social context. The story The Rector focuses on the Rector, Mr. Proctor,Continue reading ““The Rector” and Victorian Realism”

Northanger Abbey, set in regency-era England, has cultural and social differences from modern society that may make the novel feel inaccessible to readers. Austen writes extensively of balls, traditional ideals of coming into society, introductions done only through acquaintances, and past courting customs, events and concepts so far removed from the life of the readersContinue reading “Challenges in “Northanger Abbey””

The Preface to Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth discusses multiple Romantic-era poetry characteristics. Wordsworth wanted poetry to “bring his language near to the language of men,” describing situations without overly contrived language, using elements of prose, in order to demonstrate the commonalities of life. Wordsworth also described this style of poetry to be less centeredContinue reading ““This Lime Tree Bower My Prison” in comparison to “Preface to Lyrical Ballads””