Reflections from Christina Schwab on ICR 2025 & the 1819 Social
The K-SAA’s Buice Travel Fund recipient shares her experience
at ICR and with the 1819 Social
Hello!
I’m Christina Schwab. In May, I graduated with a double major in English literature and theatre from Providence College. Now, I’m back home in Havertown, Pennsylvania, a suburban community just fifteen minutes outside Philadelphia. Since graduating, I’ve been working and preparing my applications for graduate programs in English. This was interrupted, though, when I packed my bags and flew to Colorado Springs two weeks ago.
The International Conference on Romanticism was held at Colorado College this year, and I excitedly attended and presented. I met countless scholars, learned immensely, and was inspired both by the captivating presentations and the sublime scenery.
One of the many notable papers was Chris Rovee’s “The Transport of Apostrophe: Wordsworth’s ‘Surprized by Joy.’” In his paper, Chris discussed how Wordsworth’s changes in form represent the ever-changing nature of grief, presenting a nuanced reading of the poem.
One fascinating aspect of Chris’ paper focused on teaching “Surprized by Joy” to undergraduate students. Chris spoke on helping students build a comprehensive understanding of Wordsworth's multifaceted poem in a few short class periods. He also reflected on how a group of students with diversified religious and secular backgrounds have reacted differently to “Surprized by Joy,” and specifically to its final couplet. The general consensus was a shared empathy for the speaker and for one another. Wordsworth’s poem prompts many readers to reflect on their own loss, reminding them that grief is both the price of love and the burden that all human beings must bear at some point in their lives.
One of the most significant takeaways from my undergraduate education at Providence College was the knowledge that art is about empathy. It is about allowing readers, listeners, and viewers to walk in the shoes of another for a brief moment, hopefully leading them to reflect on their own lives, actions, and relationships. I could see in Chris’ paper that his students are able to learn this same concept at LSU. Studying Wordsworth’s “Surprized by Joy” prompts them not only to empathize with Wordsworth, who lost two children, but also to empathize with those around them.
As I prepare applications for PhD programs, I am both excited and nervous to teach undergraduate students. While it is an endeavor that I highly anticipate, I have been apprehensive because I was so recently an undergraduate student myself. Chris’ paper, though, inspired and excited me about the prospect of teaching undergraduate English classes. I look forward to having discussions that not only deepen our collective understanding of the subject matter, but also ones which allow us to reflect on our lives outside the classroom.
One of my key takeaways from the conference is that, as Rebecca Schneider said during the “Lord Byron” panel, “Knowledge is communally created.” Everyone at ICR is a part of a wonderful community, one which they welcomed me into with warm smiles and encouraging conversations. ICR was about sharing knowledge, and I observed how the scholars openly discussed ideas, asked questions, and suggested readings. While I didn’t have much wisdom to contribute, I was grateful that so many scholars shared their wisdom with me.
I was also grateful to connect with Chris and other scholars through the 1819 Social, the K-SAA’s mentor program. Chris hosted a fantastic dinner after Saturday’s keynote address at the Phantom Canyon, a local restaurant. I met so many young scholars, all of whom were gracious enough to share their stories and their advice. I am thrilled to be a part of the K-SAA and ICR communities, and I am looking forward to continuing my studies and learning from those around me!
Christina Schwab presenting at ICR on her adaptation and production of Frankenstein
