I had agreed to submit my paper to Dr. Murphy as the other professional medievalist on the DePaul faculty because Dr. Kelly found it impossible to “provide an objective grade.” This is his evaluation, including the scanned original at the end with some editorial comments. Note the mis-spelling of my name in his title. Always …
TO: Dr. Ellin M. Kelly FROM: James A. Nowakowski
One week after I received Dr. Kelly’s comments, I returned to class with my own envelope. Inside was my original paper, and the following 6-page rebuttal to her charges. Before class began, walked up to her desk and handed her the envelope, saying “I don’t think you’ll be too happy with this.” The transcribed from …
TO: Mr. Nowakowski FROM: Dr. Ellen M. Kelly
These are the scanned pages of Dr. Kelly’s comments on my paper for your review. Her handwriting is legible, and it’s probably better your read it for yourself if you are interested. You can imagine perhaps what I was feeling as I read them while she taught that class and leveled her charges against me. …
LOVE AS ENERGY: Some Philosophical Implications of Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur
I wrote this paper in 1975 during my final year as a graduate student majoring in English at DePaul University. It sparked a battle between me and the instructor, Dr. Ellin M. Kelly. The fallout was that I graduated with the M.A., but not with honors. I needed an A in the course to get …
On Re-Reading Sir Thomas Elyot’s (1490 – 1546) THE GOVERNOR on December 4, 2021
What if? I mean, what if? As Elyot outlined the order of learning, and which authors to read first, I remembered, and ask, “What if?” What if people had listened to Elyot throughout the centuries? Learn Greek, then Latin, then Grammar he said, and follow it all with Aesop who has “much variety in words.” …
On Re-Reading John Skelton (1460 – 1529) on December 3, 2021
I’m sure in his time Skelton carried the rhyme. But today, no offense, Who cares a sparrow died. His “the pangs of hateful death Well nigh had stopped my breath” Rings true. But honestly, The rest falls short. Kinda boney, like his name.
Luke: 15: 1 – 31 It’s Not About Finding Lost Sheep; It’s About Finding Your Lost Self
The Real Meaning of the Prodigal (Lost) Son In any communication, there is a sender and a receiver. When you tell stories, you have to understand not only who the sender is, but who the receiver(s) is. When you realize there are narrators of stories, you have to be very careful because you yourself – …
Mustard Seeds and Faith: The Sad, Continued Misinterpretation of Luke 17:5-10
This Sunday’s gospel was Luke 17: 5 – 10, and the homily around it was pathetic. Somehow, the Deacon tried to tie in global warming into the story’s meaning. Fabrication pure and simple. This repeated problem of misinterpretation of scripture or bending it to suit your needs is one of the main reasons that the …
A Note on Ezra Pound and James Joyce
The Letters of Ezra Pound to James Joyce with Pound’s Essays on Joyce is an interesting volume. Between January 1971 and March 1972, I was reading everything, and this volume was one of them. Below are some of the excerpts I found interesting, and hope you do as well. Enjoy. _________________________ “My whole habit of …
Why You Need Hate to Find Jesus. Luke 14: 25-33
It’s hard to believe that the mistakes made in the interpretation of the Bible go unchecked generation after generation. But they do. Take the Gospel Luke 14: 25-33. It continues this trend of misinterpretations by doing a kabuki dance during homilies around the word “hate.” I listened to the explanation of what is one of …