Personal Blogs

7 February 2026

Over the last week I listened to two sections of Eliot’s Quartets. It has been a discussion on the Facebook group. None of us can really make head nor tail of it. A fellow student has shared a link to this following YouTube video: A Reader's Guide to T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets". It is quite long, but I’ll try to find the time to give it a listen. Although I’ll probably give the module materials on Eliot another read, this is one of those texts that I’m not really enthusiastic about.

Yesterday I had a chat with an expert in modernism about texts that might work well with Good Morning, Midnight. A left-field suggestions was Double Indemnity by Cain. I gave this a quick read. It’s a cracking yarn. I was thoroughly engrossed for a few hours but I’m not sure whether there are clear examples within the text that relates to the TMA 4 question. Another suggestion was a textbook, An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory by Andrew Bennett and Nicholas Royle. This suggestion is in keeping with the TMA 4 guidance.

After a cup of tea, it’s back to the reading.

12 February 2026

After a couple of emails exchanged with my tutor, I’ve settled on a second text. Incidentally, it’s one by Orwell, and is also one that I happened to read 35 years ago, before I really got stuck into my career in computing. In some respects, this feels like a story that has come full circle, returning to an academic crossroads that I had passed decades before. The curious thing about re-reading this text is that I remember fragments of it. It made an impression on me, and was also a book that I carried around between different flats and houses for about a decade.

The copy I used to have is long gone. The version I’m reading has been downloaded to my Kindle. I might well have to find a paper copy, which might give me a useful introduction that might be helpful for my penultimate essay.

18 February 2026

I’m trying to read one of the three secondary readings about Good Morning, Midnight, but I’m not getting very far. The first one is hard to follow. It contains a lot of creative hypotheses about Rhys’s intentions. I’m hoping that the remaining papers will be a bit easier. Now that I’ve finished editing an exam paper, and have had a good old go at making templates for the next presentation of the software engineering module, I feel as though I have a bit of time I can dedicate to reading what I need to read.

Now that my literature studies are beginning to come to an end, I’m starting to wonder about what to study next. There is a bit of me that wants to study a level 1 maths module, since I feel a bit of ‘maths shame’. I really feel as if my practical knowledge of mathematics needs to be developed, since I struggled with the subject when I was an undergraduate. Choosing a maths module would be very much a decision of the head, rather than the heart.

One possible ‘heart’ decision, is an MA in English Literature. Through the MA Open route, there’s a possibility to combine the study of English Literature with Creative Writing.

By the looks of it, the MA in English Lit is split into two modules: MA English literature part 1 and the appropriately titled MA English literature part 2. The first module appears to be a taught module, and the second relates to the writing of a dissertation. On the creative writing pathway, the corresponding module goes by the module code and title MA Creative Writing part 2 where students have to create ‘a sustained piece of creative writing produced to a professional level’.

On the face of it, the MA looks pretty difficult, which is also the masochistic appeal. I’ve learnt that difficult things are often worthwhile. Another possibility is to have a bit of a break from study, but this would mean that I would lose my Amazon Prime and Tidal student subscriptions!

Since I’m not someone to rush into anything, I’ll see how exhausted I feel when I’ve submitted my EMA.

20 February 2026

I spent quite a bit of last night reading critical articles. I’ve moved from reading about Rhys to Orwell. One of the articles referenced a couple of Orwell’s essays, which are available to read via the Australian version of Project Gutenberg where it is possible to download ePub versions of his texts.

I also noticed in an article that Williams (who was mentioned in our previous TMA) has written a book about Orwell. I had a quick look in the OU library but couldn’t find it. I did, however, find my way to a YouTube video that shares a link between Williams and the OU, entitled Raymond Williams (with Stuart Hall) on George Orwell (YouTube). It is worth a watch. The video is a part of a series from the Raymond Williams Society. The society has a website. I had a quick look at the blog. There’s a lot there that I don’t understand!

Not only is there a Cambridge Companion to Rhys, there’s also a Cambridge Companion to Orwell. I’ve downloaded one of the chapters, which I’ll try to read through tonight, along with another article I’ve just about got halfway through. After this, it’ll be just about time to start to make notes from the secondary readings and the text. I’ll then turn my attention back to the module materials.

22 February 2026

I’m two thirds through Orwell’s essay Inside the Whale. I’m finding it slightly harder to read than his other essays, which is only down to the subject matter. Unsurprisingly, he mentions politics and the context in which literature is written. I also keep returning to a question, which is: could I pair Rhys’s Good Morning, Midnight with Miller’s The Tropic of Cancer (which Orwell mentions in his essay). There are some interesting similarities, but it doesn’t quite fit within the essay question. I’ll read the text to see how I feel for it. If I feel it’s a worthwhile pairing, I’ll ask my tutor.

I’ve also discovered an essay about the politics of Good Morning, Midnight. I’ll try to find a PDF copy so I can read it on my Kindle. I like the connection to politics, but I don’t like the reference to Deleuze, who always baffles me.

The more you read, the more you find to read.

28 February 2026

I went to see a production of Playboy of the Western World at the National Theatre. I messed up on my timing, so I managed to see the very last performance (long after the TMA had been submitted). I read a couple of reviews of it, and they were clearly mixed. The Guardian theatre reviewer, who I usually quite like, was clearly confused by the whole thing. I could sense that some members of audience had no idea what was going on. The violence of the final act was shocking, but was presented in a ridiculous farcical way. It’s a curious play, but one that has contemporary political relevance. It resonated on an unexpected personal level too; the extent to which attitudes to others can literally change overnight.

Whilst I was at the National I had a quick look at its bookshop. They had loads of books of plays by playwrights, but none by Aphra Behn. Given another contemporary story, I’m wondering whether I could start a campaign to stage The Amorous Prince.

In other news, I’ve got another book: Raymond Williams’s critical assessment of Orwell. I can’t read it right now, since I’ve got a load of difficult TM354 marking that has landed. I also need to get back to re-reading the module materials.

2 November 2025

I downloaded a version of The Mill on the Floss, and did some gardening. I read the text over the summer, and really enjoyed it, but I have a fragile memory (and understanding of the story). I found myself chuckling whilst wielding a pair of shears, probably looking like a madman.

This morning, I turned my attention to the first of the Eliot chapters, and had a listen to the final audio clip. There was an interesting chat between the block author and a couple of academics. Note to self: it contains topics that I might want to return to later on in the module.

It’s time for a bike ride.

11 November 2025

I have about ten hours to go with The Mill on the Floss. There was a chapter that I only vaguely recognised. This must have been a bit I read after having some wine; I recognised all the other chapters, events and characters. In fact, I’m quite enjoying listening to it all. It’s also interesting to see how Eliot is occasionally dropping pointers to foreshadow the ending. I might get it finished by this time next week if all goes to plan. I should certainly manage to get an hour in tomorrow.

I’ve now read three critical sources about the Tennyson poem that I’m going to focus on. They do vary in quality. One is quite long and goes into the text in quite a systematic way. The other one takes a thematic approach. The other one barely says anything. I think I know which critical source I’m going to use.

I’ve also been over bits of the poem again. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I really like it. It really speaks to me. I have an idea about how I’m going to take the essay question and make an argument about it, whilst also connecting back to something that a critic has said.

Something else: on 8 November 2025 I attended something called the Arts and Humanities Day School. They are taking place in different cities across the UK.

12 November 2025

I’m getting way ahead.

Just this morning I’ve had a good look at TMA 3. There are two bits to it: a collaborative bit, and an essay bit. I have a rough idea of what needs to be done. I have the two deadlines already in my diary: the interim deadline, and the main deadline. I think I’m going to like TMA 3.

As an aside, I think I would quite like to read a biography of Dryden. I think this interest comes from reading two other literary biographies: one of Behn, and another of Swift. Also, reading about Tennyson has led to an interest in Dryden. One biography I’ve noticed is John Dryden and his World by James Winn. I might add that to my Christmas list.

If anyone had told me ten years ago that I would be looking for biographies about Dryden, I would have thought they were on drugs.

16 November 2025

I have just under six hours of The Mill on the Floss to go. I’ll try to get through it by taking it to the gym, which I did with Bleak House. No doubt I’ll get lost and confused whilst using the elliptical machine. I’ll see.

Today I’m spending an hour to look for sources for TMA 3. Whilst I was in the area, I had a look through the Alexander Street audio library, to see if there was an audio version of Stuff Happens by David Hare. There wasn’t. I had a look on Audible, and that didn’t have anything either. There was, however, a book called Stuff Happens, which was a guide to decluttering your house, which wasn’t quite what I was looking for.

Whilst I was in the area of the Alexander Street library, I had a quick look to see whether there were any plays by Behn. None were listed. Not even The Rover. This said, I did find a recording of Playboy of the Western World by Synge, which will be really useful when it comes to TMA 3.

I’ve found four articles that look like they might relate to the TMA question. I’ve downloaded them and have made a note of their citations. I’ll leave the task for sending them all to my Kindle for another day.

19 November 2025

Two days, two tutorials. I’ve made notes.

The first one was about Tennyson and Clough. I kind of liked it. We went through one of his poems, looking at key lines, and the use of language. My focus drifted when we got to the Clough section.

The second one was about The Mill on the Floss. After a bit of talk about Eliot’s biography, our tutor took us to two fragments, where we then had a chat about the role of two of the main characters. We then had a quick chat about the ending, before starting to look at the different bits of the TMA question.

Over the next two days there are two more tutorials.

My next task? To try to find some more papers for TMA 3, and then to try to have a listen to the production of Playboy of the Western World. But before I get there, I’ve got to context switch and find my way back to Software Engineering.

21 November 2025

I missed a tutorial last night despite it being in my diary. There’s one tonight which more aligns with my TMA choice. Note to self: don’t forget it!

I did two things yesterday. I managed to listen to the audio version of The Playboy of the Western World, which was very good. I started to browse through the catalogue of other plays that were available, but thankfully I got distracted before I went in too deep.

The second thing was that I managed to find some papers that might be relevant to the TMA 3 question that is coming up. I know I’m getting way ahead of myself with this, but even if I end up using different papers when we get to the assessment, I roughly know where to look.

My next task is to send all those to my Kindle.

23 November 2025

I spent yesterday moving between different parts of the module, and carrying out different study tasks. After listening to a Tennyson and Clough tutorial (and making a bunch of notes), I then revisited my two sources with a more critical eye. This clarified what I’m going to do, and how I’m going to approach the assessment. I think I’ll go to one more tutorial, read through the question and the text we’re supposed to read again, and then get cracking with TMA 2, just so I can get it in before my own TMAs arrive. I have about a week.

I jumped forward a bit in the module materials, reading the chapter about Synge, and then starting the chapter about Ford. I then re-read the opening of the very sad story, which is The Good Soldier.

This morning my TMA 1 was returned. I’m pleased with the result. My tutor has given some useful points of criticism, but some of the comments do relate to points that I already made in the TMA. Maybe my willingness to criticise the tutor means that I’m now feeling a bit more confident in what I’m doing.

I am less confident in my understanding of what literary modernism is all about, other than disjointedness, and the slippery nature of language, which means it’s difficult to pin down meaning. There’s also something about the effect on the reader, but I haven’t really nailed that bit of understanding yet.

25 November 2025

Another tutorial last night. I picked up some useful tips. I think I’m just about pretty much ready to start. First thing this morning I read a paper that I’ll use when answering the essay question. I’ve highlighted a bunch of useful quotes. I’m going to get cracking this afternoon after a meeting about exam papers and assignments. I need to get it in by this time next week if I’m going to manage my workload.

During the tutorial, a fellow student mentioned something called the Poetry Foundation, which looks like a fabulous resource. After learning about this, I went down a poetry rabbit hole, and found my way to a Behn poem about her coterie called “our cabal”. My immediate question was: who are these people? My Kindle tells me that Behn’s biographer, Janet Todd, has some suggestions.

27 November 2025

I had a good go at my TMA 2 this morning, and I think I have broken the back of it. I began by re-reading the text, making a bunch of highlights, and then stirring the mess of notes that I had made. After a couple of hours of writing and rewriting, having a cup of tea, and going back to it, I had something that had a reasonable structure. I quite liked the assignment, since it really develops the practice of close reading a critical source, as well as close reading the text that relates to it. I do feel that we could have had something similar earlier on in the programme.

My next tasks will be to edit what I’ve done and to go through all the papers that I’ve downloaded in anticipation of TMA 3. There’s a risk that they might entirely inappropriate. The tutorials will help me figure that out.

28 November 2025

After a morning of proof reading and editing, my TMA 2 has gone in. This gives me back a bit of time to work on TM354 TMA marking when it comes in early next week.

I noticed that there were a couple of audiovisual resources that related to The Mill on the Floss that I hadn’t seen. I had a quick listen to these, and ticked of where I was in the module materials. I’m definitely ahead, and I would like to keep it that way.

A note to self: I must find the time to read through those papers that I’ve downloaded, and to read the second half of the Salih novel. This said, I think I need to start again to really understand what it is about, what what is going on.