Independent Study: Choose your own module

This was probably the best part about the English Department. It won't be meeting my coursemates, but it would be a close second. After we were told about the core modules, namely Modern Literature, Genre Study and Patterns of Language, we were told about another module. It would be of our own choice. Professor Bower reminded me and my coursemates to look through the options. An interest in any of them would be an advantage, which meant a 2,000-word essay would be a walk in a park. And he reminded us about the 5,000-word assessment at the end of the semester.

I looked through the options later that night. (We would inform Professor Bower of our decision the following day.) It piqued my curiosity, even if I was daunted at the reading list. (As if the novels by Virginia Woolf and D.H. Lawrence won't be enough.) These were the choices:

From Schindler to The Playmaker. I was familiar with "Schindler's Ark", which was Steven Spielberg's basis for "Schindler's List", but a further exploration of the Holocaust genre would throw me off the curve. How could I interpret the literary treatment of "dispossession and genocide"? I don't even knew what would be my opening line. Postcolonial exploration of European and colonial history? Maybe I should read some novels by authors from the Eastern part of Europe. (They used to be citizens of kingdoms that ceased to exist after World War II.) Fictionalizing fact in the "documentary" novel? I could write a paper or two, as I've seen enough Hollywood pictures. Maybe I would have a clear idea after a week or two.

Creative Writing - Form and Genre Study (Poetry). I was hardly interested in poetry, but this won't be a hindrance to my literary aspirations. (Poets would understand my passion in novels. It doesn't mean that I want to be a heavy reader all my life. It would be far from that.) I could imagine a meeting with my coursemates, where they would tell everyone about their feedback on other papers. And it turned out that mine was the least impressive. But I was getting paranoid.

The Woman's Picture. Another option that made me nervous. I thought this would be associated with Meryl Streep. I wouldn't even tell Professor Bower that the title could be Sandra Bullock's next (untitled) project. I don't mind watching movies, which was one of my interests. I hope it won't be the early talkies.

I told the professor about my choice the next day. I would go with the Holocaust genre. He was pleased with my selection. And then he mentioned our second-semester options. We would decide next Monday. I became more anxious.