By: Jacob Harris

There’s no need to worry about being late for a class in the manor; we are awakened every morning by a bell that hangs from Harlaxton’s highest tower! At the insistence of this Victorian gong, we rolled out of bed this morning and navigated our way through Harlaxton’s endless corridors to breakfast. When everyone had eaten their fill, it was time for class.

Professor Rutledge has his work cut out for him in keeping us from getting distracted by the beauty of our classroom! The paneled walls conceal secret passages and are adorned with several gorgeous paintings. The massive windows let light pour in from the gardens and offer us a view of the manor’s intricate gates. But more stunning, still, is the ceiling—a vast skyscape embellished with ivory dragons, gold detailing, and a brilliant chandelier.

After a lecture on the terms relevant to poetry and a group analysis of several poems, we were given free time for the rest of the day. The manor’s shuttle was busy that day, as people bussed into Grantham. Several groups went out exploring, while others were content to find a soft place to nap. I, sitting in a windowsill I may never find again, wrote this blog.

By: Jacob Harris

At around 7:30 this morning, a chorus of alarms sounded throughout Nutford House, and the owners of these hateful devices—our group—began preparing for class. We trudged downstairs and competed with the other occupants for a spot at breakfast. Following our meal, it was time for class. Here we received the true British experience: settled comfortably into the scattered mix of chairs and sofas, we turned our attention to Prof. Rutledge’s lecture on traditional British literature.

Today, Professor Rutledge schooled us on the lives and works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. We learned of the two men’s friendship, and how their experiences in World War I and their shared passion for linguistics drew them together. We learned how Tolkien incorporated Old English influences into much of his writing, and how C.S. Lewis was a fervent defender of the fantasy novel’s place in classic literature. Rutledge rounded off our day’s lecture with an introduction to poetry, preparation for our upcoming expeditions into the writing of English poets.

As class came to a close, we were given free time to explore the city of London. Rising from the seats of our antique classroom, we stepped out into the gentle afternoon rain of London. We strolled under the romantic, water-color sky to the nearest Tube stop: Marble Arch. From here, we were off! We raced through the busy streets of London, pencils flying furiously as we scratched items off of our “to-see” lists. The group I was with spent time at Abbey Road, and stopped by the British Library. It was a packed day, and that night we welcomed our much-needed rest!