The YAWP: Villanova's Graduate English Program Blog

From our friends over in Humanities and Theology & Religious Studies: The Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Conference (PMR) at Villanova University invites you to participate in its 50th International PMR Conference October 24-26, 2025 at the Inn at Villanova University. As always, the PMR makes an OPEN CALL to scholars, institutions, and societies to propose Papers, Panels, or Sponsored Sessions in all areas and topics in LATE ANTIQUITY/PATRISTICS, BYZANTINE STUDIES, MEDIEVAL STUDIES, ISLAMIC STUDIES, JEWISH STUDIES, and RENAISSANCE & REFORMATION STUDIES. The PMR committee this year makes a special invitation to scholars from all disciplines in these fields to address our plenary theme: In the Abyss of this Darkness … In the Deep Quiet of the Godhead: Mysticism, Mystery, and Trinitarian Life in Times of Crisis For the 50th gathering of the Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Conference at Villanova University. Featuring Sarah Coakley, FBA McDonald Visi...

The 15th Annual Thesis and Field Exam Symposium was held in SAC 300 on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, and featured research presentations by Ariel Hooks, Nosike Okafor, Jaxon Parker, Samantha Philipps, and Jeanbry Torres.  Ariel Hooks presented on a thesis comparing the noir novel Laura (1942) with the videogame Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea (2013-14), and argued that both narratives provide avenues through which their "dangerous, monstrous female heroine can travel to assert authority over her aesthetic portrayal and her voice."  Ariel's audience followed up with a variety of questions, including one about the difference between a reader and a player. Ariel responded that she thinks there isn't much difference--"it's just someone fully engaging with the art that they're presented with."  Nosike Okafor presented on "T he Liberatory Function of Death in the Poetry of Ernest Jones." Jones was a Chartist, who, according to Nosike, felt for the pl...

Our very own Lisa Sewell will be reading, along with Ethel Rackin, at Main Point Books, on Thursday, April 10th, in celebration of National Poetry Month. We hope you will be able to make it!

The Shakespeare Association of America just announced that Professor Alice Dailey and Professor Chelsea Phillips's production of Thomas Kyd's  The Spanish Tragedy won honorable mention for the Shakespeare Publics Award. Per the Association's website , "This award recognizes pioneering and/or culturally significant efforts to foster, engage, support and sustain broad and diverse Shakespeare publics through teaching, scholarship, performance and/or activism." All the Association's prizes will be awarded at their annual conference, next month in Boston. Congratulations, Dr. Dailey and Dr. Phillips! You can read more about The Spanish Tragedy on the project's website . courtesy of spanishtragedy.villanova.edu

  Fall 2025 Course Descriptions ENG 8000 What’s Hot? Introduction to Theory Across the Discipline of English Dr. Michael Dowdy CRN 27943 Tuesday 5:20-7:20 pm This course will be run as a seminar in which each week, a different graduate faculty member will introduce you to a body of theory that is particularly important within current discussions in their field of specialization. What are some of the major theoretical approaches in medieval studies today? Early modern studies? What about 19th-century American literature and British literature? Modernism? Postcolonial Studies? Irish Studies? Contemporary literature? This class is an attempt to bring you immediately into dialogue with a wide variety of theories that are shaping literary study today. The course is intended to be a lively opportunity to meet most of the English faculty members who teach at the graduate level and to engage in dialogue about and analysis of the contemporary state of literary theory. Assignments wil...