The English Literature Addict

I apologize for the lack of entries. Blogs for me come in two varieties, drought or downpour, but usually drought.

Truth is, I have been studying for the GRE English Literature Subject test, and therefor have not done any real reading of literature for the last month. Sounds a bit backwards, right? Well, I discovered rather quickly after taking a practice test that the sort of knowledge I possess in literature, the deep detailed knowledge of a few pieces and the desire to add more, was not the sort of knowledge that would do me any benefit for this test. No, what I need is the more trivia like, jeopardy esc knowledge that one does not gain from being a Photojournalist student with an English minor.

But then, any Undergrad English majors now studying for this test, did your studies give you the sort of knowledge you’ve seen in the practice tests?

Its frustrating, this studying, because I miss actually reading. I’m keeping track of the books I’m reading about and want to actually READ, but still…

I know this is not the sort of academic learning I have to look forward too in grad school, the cramming without any discussion or real comprehension, but if I’m going to get into a good grad school, I have to play by the laws of bureaucracy and the torture of standardized testing in a subject that does not lend itself to such bounds.

And a note on the language in this post: I’ve been reading the Norton Anthologies of English Literature, I’m up to the 18th century, and yes, this is affecting how I write and talk at the moment. My workmates would concur, and yes, it is REALLY bothersome.