Being an English major definitely has its pros and cons, just like any other major. English isn't just reading The Great Gatsby and calling it a day--it's so much more than that. Just because we aren't taking physics or calculus doesn't mean that our classes aren't challenging; we're just thinking in a different way. Without further ado, here are the struggles that English majors know to be too real.
1. The amount of reading we have to do.
Of course, we know that being an English major requires reading. But most of the time, there's so much of it. It's like, within three days, you'll have to have read 100 pages for one class and 100 for another.
2. Thinking analytically all the time
Many books may be hard to comprehend in terms of what a character is saying or what is going on. English majors not only have to understand those things, but "read between the lines," if you will. We're always doing character analysis, plot analysis, figuring out symbols and metaphors, and thinking through different "lenses" when applying literary criticism. Annotating is an English major's best friend.
3. Talking about literature at 9am
Most literature classes are discussion based, so your job is to read the text and come into class ready to talk about what you read. Sounds easy right? It's not when your class is at 9am and you're half asleep and barely even remember what you read when you were up late reading the text and half asleep.
4. All of your grades coming from multiple essays and one exam
English tests in high school usually ask you which character said which quote and what the themes of the novel are, but English assessments at the college level are pretty much just essays and a final. Along with a lot of reading, being an English major requires a lot of academic writing.
5. All of the weird literary terms you have to memorize
English is already a difficult language. There are so many irregular verbs and too many words that should don't sound the same way they're spelt and vice versa. (Okay can we just talk about how red and read are pronounced the same way, but read can also be pronounced as reed, which is also a real word?) Anyway, on top of the complexity that is English, there are so many literary terms we have to know. Many of them are as simple as simile and metaphor and have been drilled into our brains since middle school. Then there are the literary devices we have already been exposed to, so they just get a fancy name (like anaphora, which is just repeating the beginning of a phrase like in the "I have a dream" speech). Not difficult, right? Trust me, there are many literary terms I had no idea existed and yes, they have even weirder names. The struggle is super real.
6. Owning more than one copy of the same book
This basically comes down to owing 5 editions of the same book but you need to buy another one because your professor wants a specific edition. But hey, it's only like a cent on Amazon so it doesn't hurt, right? *Laughs nervously*
