ADV Eng: Absurdism
Delve into Absurdism, exploring 20th-century works by Camus, Beckett, Stoppard, and Pirandello and investigate their use of humor, impossible events, and questioning to push their audience toward introspection.
English
Stories give shape to the confusion of our lives. English courses at Pomfret challenge students to engage fully with the texts, their teachers, and their peers in discussion-based classes. Students write often, in a variety of genres, from the analytical to the personal to the imaginative. Our English faculty comprises teachers who love the literary arts and make it a large part of their lives. The Department also offers an exciting annual lineup of visiting authors, further broadening the horizon of what is possible for our students.
English Courses
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ADV Eng: A Secret History: Exploring Donna Tartt’s Masterpiece
Explore the historical and cultural context of Tartt's A Secret History and analyze the novel from multiple perspectives.
ADV Eng: Comedy and Tragedy
Analyze a Shakespearean tragedy alongside Molière’s Tartuffe, comparing the Bard's deep exploration of themes like arrogance, power, and revenge with Molière’s satirical critique of French society and religious zealots.
ADV Eng: Creative Writing
A true writing workshop, this class will allow students to create, revise, and develop independent creative projects in a collaborative setting.
ADV Eng: Dante’s Inferno
Delve into Dante's Inferno, exploring its symbolism, allegory, and historical context while discussing themes of morality and justice.
ADV Eng: David Foster Wallace
Examine the essays, short stories, and teaching notes of David Foster Wallace to understand the author and refine your own writing skills.
ADV Eng: Drama of Eugene O’Neill
Explore Eugene O’Neill's brooding, philosophical dramas, characterized by dark humor and autobiographical elements.
ADV Eng: Emily Dickinson
Explore Emily Dickinson's unique contribution to American poetry amidst the male-dominated "American Renaissance," with a focus on her craft, influence, and personal expression.
ADV Eng: Gender and Identity
Explore how societies pressure individuals into conformity, focusing on gender roles in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
ADV Eng: Homer’s Odyssey
This course will explore what is commonly thought to be one of the earliest pieces of literature.
ADV Eng: Invisible Man
This course will dive deep into Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison’s epic tale of one man’s search for his identity.
ADV Eng: L.A. Noir
Explore the literature and film that came to represent the Los Angeles and, to an extent, the nation.
ADV Eng: Literature in Adaptation: Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours
Examine literary adaptation through Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and Michael Cunningham’s The Hours, exploring text-to-text and text-to-film adaptations.
ADV Eng: Philosophy in Literature
Examine the way philosophers use literary strategies to transmit their ideas as you read, write essays, and engage with key contemporary philosophy topics.
ADV Eng: Style, Translation, and Parody
Experiment with language, imitate authors, write parodies, and explore translation, aiming to develop your own voice and understand stylistic choices.
English Faculty
Kathleen Forrestal
English Teacher, Form Dean, Henry F. "Nick" Harris 1947 Endowed Chair in Literature
Gregory Rossolimo
English Teacher, Marsh A. Bryan '51 Head Coach for Crew, Girls Varsity Squash Head Coach
