Students Present Research at Seton Hall University

Three Monmouth University undergraduates recently presented their research at Seton Hall University's fourth annual Undergraduate English Literature Conference. This year's conference theme was "the literary self" in British, American, and global Anglophone literature. The Monmouth students presented along with students from Kean, Montclair State, Seton Hall, and SUNY-Purchase.

Ana Heloisa Carvalho, an English and secondary education senior, presented on Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel "Rebecca." Carvalho said the unnamed narrator measures herself against Rebecca, which creates her insecurities and her need to meet social standards while negotiating expected roles. Stories don't just tell what happens, Carvalho remarked, but also shape how we see ourselves and our place.

Eleanor Curatolo's presentation examined how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1884 short story "The Blood-Stone Tragedy: A Druidical Story" reflects his then-current belief in the Victorian religion Theosophy. The story depicts conflicting viewpoints on Druidry in order to promote anti-patriarchal outspokenness and individuality, according to Curatolo, a senior English major with a minor in religious studies.

Early childhood education senior Erin Downey's presentation applied Michel Foucault's idea of power-knowledge to two early poems by confessional poet Anne Sexton. Sexton challenges the traditional understanding of madness by presenting it not as a personal affliction but as a socially defining label shaped and enforced by institutional structures that shape patients' identities, said Downey.

For Carvalho and Downey, their first off-campus conference presentation was a transformative experience. According to Downey, "The thoughtful and dedicated presenters inspired and encouraged me for future endeavors in my academic career. This experience reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary learning, reminding me that growth often comes from stepping into unfamiliar spaces. I left the conference more confident in my abilities and eager to continue expanding my academic interests."

Carvalho agreed, "The Seton Hall professors were very kind, encouraging, and genuinely interested in my work, which made the experience even more meaningful to me. Hearing so many different perspectives and research topics was eye-opening and thought-provoking. Overall, the conference strengthened my appreciation for literature and criticism, and made me even more excited about continuing my studies and research in the future."

Curatolo said, "My favorite part of the conference might have been listening and responding to everyone's thoughts in the discussions that followed the presentations in each panel. These discussions were the beginnings of stimulating conversation among professors and students across New Jersey. It was an incredible experience to share my work with professors and students outside of my home university."

Despite their different majors, the students had in common their professor and advisor, Associate Professor of English Stanley Blair, who assisted them with the entire process from interpreting a call for proposals and crafting their proposal abstracts to preparing to present. Because of the validation such conferences can provide, Blair sees professional mentoring as crucial to student success: "Undergraduate conference presentations not only provide students with an external perspective on their studies but also enable them to begin transitioning into life after Monmouth with professional momentum."