English Department at W&L

I received a copy of the W&L Alumni Magazine yesterday and enclosed in the issue was a copy of a photograph of several of my English professors, now retired. Dr. Coulling, Dr. Ray (who was my faculty adviser)and several other English professors who were there when I was there. There was even a professor depicted who came after I had graduated and had thereafter become the head of the department. That could make you feel old.

Dr. Coulling was my first English professor in my first Sophomore level Survey course. I remember that several of us had him as our first English professor and were simply amazed by his teaching ability and knowledge of English literature. Ken Smith and I referred to him as the "God of English." Every week in his course, we were required to write an essay on our reading. At the time, I really had received no instruction on how to write a proper essay. Starting with a low C on my first essay, Dr. Coulling worked me up to an A- by the end of the Semester. He constantly wanted me to come in to meet with him, but I was too shy to do so. Fortunately, he persevered by giving me written instructions on the blank side of my essay. By the end, he truly had taught me a lesson about essay writing.

My next Fall English course, during my Sophomore year, was a Romantic Poetry course. Again, Dr. Coulling was the instructor. By that time, I had learned quite a bit about writing. It didn't hurt that I have always had an affinity for the Romantic poets. I got a high A in that course, and my road toward graduation with honors found its beginning.

Dr. Ray, on the other hand, was a whole other kettle of fish. Dr. Ray, or Death Ray or Sting Ray (as you prefer) was my faculty adviser. I remember going to his home for a cocktail party at the beginning of Freshman year. I personally liked Dr. Ray and we ended up being closer (no pun intended) when he was the faculty teacher on my trip to England in my Junior year. He is the only English professor, or professor of any other sort, with whom I was forced to share a bed in Yorkshire, due to the lack of available space in the inn. Fortunately, the bed was large enough to provide enough space for both of us. I also remember going to see a 'kitchen sink drama' in the north of London and participating in a discussion about the play the next morning. It helped that I had studied modern British and American drama under Dr. Ray in the previous semester. I ended up being the 'expert' on such dramas that morning.

I won't forget studying Shakespeare under Dr. Ray when I was a Freshman. On our midterm exam, the test was a series of quotes from Shakespeare's plays. We were supposed to identify the play, the speaker, the place in which the quote was placed, the context and then opine as to the meaning of the quote. Each of us just about threw up our hands when we saw the test. I remember one test-taker leaving the room in Payne Hall, closing the door behind him and then emitting a loud wail of anguish in the hallway outside.

We would have laughed if there had been anything funny.

I did enjoy the English Department at W&L when I was there. All of my professors at the time were very cordial and helpful. They really filled out the concept of a college for me.