George Wythe College Oral Exam for English Literature

So today I had my Oral Exam.
This is pretty much what questions were asked and what I answered...ish. Or what my brain retained after it let go of all the nervous thoughts.


this was the outfit I wore for my oral.


Dr. Schulthies: Which book was your favorite?  
{the books were....Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Paradise Lost by John Milton, Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and Middlemarch by George Elliot.}
Me: (I was intending on saying Pride and Prejudice and Hamlet... but it came out) Middlemarch and Pride and Prejudice being second. (This was a bit of a surprise to me because all through reading it I was complaining about it, and declared it rather dull. However when he asked that; I realized it was my favorite, partially because I struggled while reading it.)

Dr. Schulthies: So what about Victorian literature do you like so much?
Me: Well one I like the style and the characters. And I aspire to be an "accomplished lady of the Lord" and so I like books where it was part of the culture to be Ladies or Gentlemen.

Dr. Schulthies: So how do these literature  descriptions help in your vision of an "accomplished lady"?
Me: Well, when you have the worldly accomplishments (like what I have already described in the previous post) then you are able to have a larger circle of influence on the world. However when you add the Christlike virtues like.... patience, integrity, confidence, charity, etc. You are able to do even more. That is one of the reasons Dorothea is so admired is she knows how to be and is a lady, she also has a very giving good nature. Rosamund however prides herself on her ladylike up-bringing and yet is rather conceited, and selfish. 

Dr. Schulthies: What bugged you about Dorothea?
Me: That she would fully commit herself to something with out really thinking about it and the future consequences, and end up getting hurt.

Dr. Schulthies: Give me an example?
Me: When she just married Cassaubom, and didn't really think about it, and she ended up losing some of her freedom and being hurt by his last will and testament.

Dr. Schulthies: Are you planing on getting married?
Me:yes

Dr. Schulthies: Are you going to submit your will to your husbands? if so How is that different from Dorothea?
Me: Yes I would submit to his will but I think that the only way for a marriage to work out is if you both give up something. Dorothea submitted too much and Cassaubom didn't sacrifice anything. but then on the other hand Lydgate sacrificed everything and Rosamond nothing. Neither were good marriages which is why you both equally give to the other.

Dr. Schulthies: Who usually gives/sacrifices more in a marriage?
Me: Probably the husband actually.
*Then there were a lot of questions comparing Pride and Prejudice to Middlemarch and who is a better author Jane Austen or George Elliot. And I honestly can't remember how I answered.*

Dr. Schulthies: What did Paradise Lost teach you about relationship between a man and a woman?
Me: No matter the trials that come always continue to move forward together in hope and faith. And cleave unto God first then your husband.

Dr. Schulthies: Why? Give me an example from the book of why it is better to cleave to God and then to husband.
Me: After Eve had partaken of the fruit and had Adam do so as well, God with drew. And the love Adam and Eve they had shared before the fruit then became un-whole and tarnished. As soon as the Lord forgave them and cast them out of the garden He was still there guiding them; their love again became beautiful and complete.

Dr. Schulthies: What makes a "Good" book?
Me: When you can relate to the characters, and have several insights about yourself.

Dr. Schulthies: What was one of the insights you had about during this semester's readings?
Me: All the readings had a similar theme. Hamlet- Finding yourself and being true to yourself. Paradise Lost- Finding yourself in relation to God. Frankenstein- in relation to something you created. Pride and Prejudice- your own journey and relationship to someone who is courting you. Middlemarch- true to yourself and relationship in a marriage, with God, and relation to society.

Dr. Schulthies: To be your accomplished lady do you feel a need to study science?
Me: I know it is good to be well rounded in education. I just haven't jumped into those studies yet.

Dr. Schulthies: I think that's about time. And you know your characters well. You got an A-
I would branch out though from English Literature a bit more.