THE OXFORD PERSPECTIVE
After experiencing the exciting and mundane parts of the city, I can now confidently say that I am able to see Oxford with a new and appreciative eye. My classes have helped me look deeper into my surroundings and understanding the architecture, art, and literature history, I am able to not only see the city but understand it. The charm and history of this country do not go unnoticed by me, and I find myself waking up every day with feelings of excitement and curiosity. Now that I have seen most of the big tourist attractions, I am able to love all the hidden ones as well. I look at the buildings with an artistic eye and can identify what I am seeing and why that was used.
A FIRST LOOK AT THE ARCHITECTURE
Every experience here at Oxford has been life changing. I have been so grateful for every visitor I see here, and it is going to be so hard to go back home after this. Everywhere I go, I am greeted by a beautiful landscape or architecture. Before coming on this trip, I obviously knew of Oxford’s history and charm, but I was not prepared for the immense beauty that would be waiting for me upon arrival. Blenheim Palace is known for its extraordinary grandeur and gardens. It was created as a gift for John Churchill from Queen Anne to say thank you for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim. In the architecture, they are poking fun at France using different techniques. They put a lion strangling and killing a French cock and used French techniques on their victory tower. It was so cool to be able to understand the reason behind all of the architecture. Another part of the trip that I loved was seeing the Temple of Diana. This is where Winston Churchill proposed to his wife. It was such a peaceful walk, and it gave me time to reflect on my time here and appreciate all that we have done so far.
This is the palace where Ed Clarke, my architecture professor, toured us around. The Blenheim palace is a baroque style building from it was built around 1705 and 1722. me and friend walked to the rose garden and learned about the temple of Diana.
FINDING FAITH
Another main theme I have noticed is my connection to the churches here. we have visited almost every one of the churches here. I find comfort in the fact that millions of people have been here before me and will continue to be here after me. it makes me feel connected to God. The churches of oxford all possess inspire a sense of awe and inspiration in me. Stepping into these spaces often evokes feelings of peace and a profound connection to something greater than ourselves. For many, including myself, the experience of visiting these architectural relics can be a catalyst for deep spiritual reflection and a renewed belief in God. This essay explores how the beauty, history, and sacred atmosphere of old churches contribute to a sense of divine presence and inner tranquility.
This is the house where Dylan Thomas lived. Dylan Thomas was a renowned poet and writer during the 20th century. he lived in this hidden beautiful cottage outside of magdalen college for a portion of his life.
DYLAN THOMAS’ COTTAGE AND ADDISONS WALK
The last place that stuck out to me was going on the walk outside of Magdalen College. One theme that remains true to me during this trip is the importance of classical writers in our world. This trip has shown me that despite the time passing, great writers will withstand the test of time. It is so fascinating to see where these writers learned and lived, and it also allows for better understanding of why they wrote what they did. Understanding their lives allows us to further appreciate their work. I feel so appreciative to have had the opportunity to visit with both my architecture class and my literature class. It gave me two separate perspectives because I got to understand the literary history as well as the history of the buildings. My favorite part was seeing Dylan Thomas’ house. Ed Clake told us a story about how the dean’s wife had a crush on him and gave him the beautiful cottage on the water in secret. From a literary perspective, it was so cool to learn about C.S. Lewis’ life and read his poem.
This trip has been one of the highlights of my life and I am so thankful that I was able to meet such an amazing group of people. I have found my love for traveling can now confidently say that I am able to see Oxford with a new and appreciative eye. My classes have helped me look deeper into my surroundings and understanding the architecture, art, and literature history, I am able to not only see the city but understand it. I look at the buildings with an artistic eye and can identify what I am seeing and why that was used.
Anna and Anne’s Triumphs and Trials
Finally acclimated, I am able to see London, Bath, and Oxford with a new and appreciative eye. The charm and history of this country do not go unnoticed by me, and I find myself waking up every day with feelings of excitement and curiosity. Now that I have seen most of the big tourist attractions, I am able to love all of the hidden ones as well.
LOOKING DEEPER INTO THE CITY OF OXFORD
It is difficult to pinpoint my favorite sites I have been on this trip. Every experience here has been life changing. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about my favorite site to visit is the market here in Oxford. On Wednesday, I set out looking for a new coffee shop to be able to work in. When I was walking up and down the street, not seeing anything new, I saw the entrance to the covered markets. I was curious and decided to peek inside. What I found was amazing; there were countless new places to try. Just when I thought I was able to make my way around the city, a new surprise was hidden right in front of my eyes. I walked around, trying to find a cup of coffee. I found a small bookstore and coffee shop. I bought a poetry book of all the poems of Sylvia Plath released posthumously. After I read a few of them, I started doing my reflection and my presentation on art and architecture.
ASHMOLIAN ADVENTURES: STOLEN HISTORY
The next day, I traveled with my art and architecture group to the Ashmolian Museum. This was not the first time we visited this museum, and I was excited to see what I would notice the second time visiting. We walked around, looking at the different periods of art. We were tasked with finding a piece of art that speaks to us and then doing a presentation to the class about it. I have decided I am going to do mine on a painting by Paulo Uccello called The Hunt in the Forest. At first glance, you can see why it is called the hunt, but after looking closer, you can understand what the symbolism behind the painting is. It depicts soldiers, some on horses, some on the ground, all running after deer into a deep forest. The forest is symbolic of life, and the hunt is symbolic of the chase and hunger for love. This painting was very meaningful, and you could tell how many hours of hard work and thought went into creating it. I chose this piece because I loved the emotion it brought to the whole class when we first saw it. Once my professor explained the meaning, it meant even more.
As an assignment in my architecture class, Ed gave us the us the freedom to pick out a painting that spoke to us. This the painting that caught my eye. You can see the soldiers and dogs all fighting to go deeper into the forest to chase the deer. It is hard to see in this picture, but in real life, it is clearer who the privileged men are because they have arrows and horses. It is symbolic because the “privileged” get there before everyone else.
LOOKING WAY BACK: A RICH PERSPECTIVE
The last interesting site that I experienced was with my group. We woke up early and took a bus to London to experience the British Museum. We were split into groups, and I was able to hang out with my friends before they were taken to the bank of Enlgnad. My favorite part of the trip was being able to go off on my own and look at the exhibits. I went to a wonderful explanation of the beginning of language and the start of ancient Mesopotamia and Iraq. It was so fascinating to look at the slow evolution of language, math, and urbanization. My tour guide was a kind and knowledgeable guide, and I learned so much from the short time I spent with him. We saw artifacts from the earliest examples of human communication and documentation, as well as instruments that are thousands of years old. We also saw pieces and instructions from the first game discovered. It was the first time the rules of a group were documented for others to read. It was so comforting to see that humans now and humans from thousands of years ago find joy in the same things we do. After we had finished the tour, we showed my friends what we had just learned and were able to give them some of the valuable knowledge we had just gained.
This is a picture of two people on my tour learning about this ancient library. This is the first library in the world and the first record of humans documenting their knowledge. Our tour guide mentioned that there were thousands of tablets found, and they are creating a project in order to translate what they knew and put it on the internet for everyone to be able to see and learn about.
The most meaningful of the readings we have read this week was without a doubt Persuasion by Jane Austen. Jane’s unique gift of writing shows in each of her novels, but especially in Pursuit. The first theme that represents a stage in my personal development and my outlook on life is the notion that, in order to survive in love, you must learn romance. Although the term sounds a bit strange, Jane Austen does a beautiful job explaining exactly what she means. In Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion, our protagonist Anne and her lover, Captain Wentworth, are able to overcome their tumultuous past and learn to love each other anyway. In Jane Austen’s Victorian masterpiece, Persuasion, she describes the process of love and romance as one that is to be learned. This beautiful statement about romance remains true and is seen throughout the novel. The complicated love story between Captain Wentworth and our protagonist, Anne Elliot, goes through immense tests. The biggest one being a grueling time apart of almost eight years. These two characters were hopelessly in love as children but did not marry. These characters go through immense changes that transform both their love and themselves as people. This allows them to grow into a better-suited couple. One example of this in the text is when Anne is able to overcome their messy history and when Wentworth is able to get past the fact that she rejected him in their past.
Another theme that is present in Jane Austen that I connected with was her self-growth. The first change Anne goes through is one of self-growth. From the very beginning, we see Anne as disregarded and ignored. She is put down by her father and sister repeatedly, and it is hard to understand why she wouldn’t stick up for herself. In chapter one, Austen writes, “Anne, with elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody to either father or sister; her word had no meaning; her conviction was always to give way—she was only Anne” (5). This heartbreaking quote gives the reader a glimpse into the mind and heart of Anne Eliot. She knows she is thought of as less than by the rest of her family; she sees no point in sticking up for herself because they don’t care anyway. Another example of this is when they must sell Kellynch Hall because they can no longer afford it. They must move and are debating where they should go. Anne makes it abundantly known that Bath does not “agree” with her. On page 11, Austen writes, “But the usual fate of Anne attended her, in having something very opposite from her inclination fixed on. She disliked baths and did not think they agreed with her, and bath were to be her home” (11). This painful quote perfectly shows her disregard for her family. This new place, her new home, is somewhere where she feels like she doesn’t belong. This shows how Anne does not have a home with anyone or anywhere. In Jane Austen’s masterpiece, Persuasion, the reader grows with Anne, as well as being able to relate to a kind and gracious young character. This novel is a beautiful and realistic love story that has remained relevant for hundreds of years because of its beauty. It is so amazing to be able to see London and oxford with less of a tourist’s eye. I am grateful to finally be looking at these beautiful places with a more appreciated and thoughtful lens.
The oxford experience is one of both education and travel, but most importantly one of self-discovery. after attending this trip, I can confidently my sense of self has grown exponentially. through the three books we read, I was able to experience oxford looking through a literary Lense. In Jane Austen’s masterpiece, Persuasion, the reader grows with Anne, I was able to relate to her character especially, and felt that this book was a beautiful representation of a realistic love story that has remained relevant for hundreds of years because of its beauty. It is so amazing to be able to see London and oxford with less of a tourist’s eye and through the eyes of the poets and authors that came so long before me. I am grateful to finally be looking at these beautiful places with a more appreciated and thoughtful Lense.
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