Owenrmoore0114

      As our trip grows closer and our time in this class comes to an end, I am sad yet excited at the same time. This class has been incredibly interesting and I have been able to learn so much in such a short amount of time. When I was a child my father would always read a book based in the location of where ever our family would be vacationing. I like to think of this class in similar sense as his ritual, as we really immersed ourselves in the historical literature of Europe.      I think this class has been a great advantage, especially for those (like myself) who have not yet had the chance to travel to Europe. This class has educated us on the history of the places we are visiting so when we go there we aren’t just tourists, but rather admires of the country, hoping to learn more. It is almost like studying and reading up for a test before taking it. We are educating ourselves so we don’t walk into this new place without any background.        

     It is truly crazy how close we are to the amazing trip we’ll be going on. As our departure date grows closer, I am getting more and more excited (and maybe a little nervous too).     I personally have never been to Europe but have always wanted to. The more people I tell and talk to about this trip the more suggestions and ideas I get. My parents who have been to both Ireland and England on multiple occasions are incredibly excited for me to experience the same things they did at my age.      What has really peeked my interest is the old architecture and buildings of these ancient cities. I feel as though I will sense a great connection to my Irish and Scottish roots while abroad. It’s truly amazing to think about the stories and history that is embedded in these places. What is even more interesting is that we have been reading literature and learning about people from these great cities and can connect the material to real life when we visit. 

                While reading Waverley, it is obvious that the love triangle consisting of Edward, Flora, and Rose is a strong overarching topic of the novel. Like with many books, tv shows, movies, and stories, the triangle is a classic and sometimes vital addition to any good plot. In Waverley, Edward meets two women at fairly similar times. Rose and Flora who were once good friends but couldn’t be more different from one another. Rose is a light mannered girl with golden hair, while Flora is more dark and mysterious (The two remind me of Cal and Aron Trask from East of Eden). While Rose falls for Edward, Edward is seemingly in love with Flora, a romantic like himself. Unfortunately Floras feelings don’t waver the same why and she shuts down Edwards advances. While Edward could have just taken the rejection like a man and leave Flora in peace he decided not to. Edward’s buddy, Fergus, doesn’t understand rejection either and continues to push Edward onto Flora. I found this to be very