Midterm Letter

Dear Marlen,

            I would first like to start out by thanking you for finally giving me a challenging class.  This year I decided to take

six classes because the last two semesters I had five classes and they weren’t challenging enough for me.  If only I

knew what I was getting myself into.  Through having this class, I have discovered that I am very good at managing

my time.  I have also become more organized, because you cannot fall behind in this class.

            I feel that both, time management and organization are skills that are important in everyday life.  Your strict

schedule caused me to bring out these skills.  I believe every class should make students challenge themselves.  Even

 though this class is challenging, you also make the class fun.  I have no problem getting up early to come to your 8am

 class because I know I will learn something new about myself.  Throughout high school, I dreaded going to my English

 classes.  Now, in college, they have been my favorite classes so far.  Your way of relating literature to ourselves and

our own lives has really grasped my attention.  I have learned so much about myself and literature.  By making

connections to my own life, it has made learning literature a lot easier and more fun.

            One example would be making connections with the rabbits in Watership Down to your own life journey.  In one

 of my blog entries, I made the connection that Hazel showed qualities of the lover archetype; which is my dominant

 archetype.  Hazel shows some parental love characteristics towards Fiver.  I have also learned a lot about the

different archetypes and the monomyth.  We have looked at The Odyssey and Odysseus’ journey.  When we looked at

 the different stages of his journey, the stages made more sense to me.  By seeing the details of each stage, through, The

Odyssey, it helped me better understand the stages of the monomyth, given in The Heroic Monomyth article.

            The readings you have chosen for the course each have their own way of connecting back to the theme of the

course.  I am glad you have chosen interesting books and articles for the course that I was able to relate to myself. 

Through you class, it has brought back my enjoyment of reading.  Before, I would just read because I had to for a

class.  Now, when I read a book, article, etc., I read more in depth and make connections to my own life.  I learn a lot

more when I read and also learn more about myself through the connections I make.

            At the beginning of the semester, I was extremely intimidated by the syllabus and your grading structure.  I was

really nervous about not keeping up with the course work and due dates.  However, I was equally excited to continue

learning more about the hero’s journey and archetypes, since I had learned some about those themes in English 101. 

 After making it through the first week and with the encouraging words of the course assistants, I knew I would make it

through this class.  I am glad I have stuck it out, because like you said, we need a class that challenges us, makes us

complain about the work load, and makes us work hard to earn the grade we deserve.  After completing assigned

homework, I feel accomplished and good about myself that I worked hard and put a lot of effort into getting a good

grade.  Another thing that worried me was the limited amount of time given on quizzes.  Having to think that deeply in

such a short amount of time, had my nerves shot.  As we continued to take quizzes, it became easier for me to draw

direct connections to what I had read to what you were asking.  This way of taking quizzes has given me another skill I

 can use in my other classes and in my life; quicker thinking skills.

            I think the way you have your syllabus set up is great.  At the beginning of the semester, when students are

ready to be back and start the new year, you have a harder and more demanding work load.  Then as the semester

goes on the work load lessens, which is good because students start to slack and get anxious for winter break.  This is

also good for me because, some of my other professors have more work at the end of the semester, so my work load is

balanced out.  I am glad we get the opportunity of working in groups during class.  I feel that this is a good way to

prepare you for group efforts in our careers.  This also gives us a chance to hear our group member’s opinions and

how they felt about the readings and writings.

            One of my goals is to learn more about life.  So far I have learned a lot through the myths and from Joseph

Campbell.  I feel that this class is going to set the stage for me to keep learning about myself and my journey.  I have

started to see my knowledge of these themes expanding; especially when I can pick out new ideas and deconstruct a

movie that I have seen numerous times.  This class has given me insight on so many areas and has taught me a whole

 new way of looking at literature, books, fairy tales, life, and mainly myself.  I have greatly enjoyed this class so far,

and I am looking forward to what your class has to bring the rest of the semester.

Truly,

Tabitha Barrick