Paul Munn
Professor of English
Ph.D. University of Minnesota, 1988
I suppose that I specialize in poetry, mainly British and American but also some other world traditions. Or perhaps I specialize in Renaissance and eighteenth-century English literature. Better yet, I may be said not to specialize, as I have taught all genres and periods of English and American literature as well as the history of literary criticism and the poetry of modern Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet. My recent and past projects can be viewed by means of my vita: https://sites.google.com/site/paulmunnsite/home/vita-of-paul-munn
I occasionally play my guitar and sing at various venues around town under the name of pablo mundo: originals and covers, folk and rock. I also enjoy harmonizing and playing the harmonica and spoons. I am perhaps too much inclined to burst into song or spontaneous recitation of poems in class, at parties, and on the street. I spend too much time playing Go (a board game of ancient Chinese origin) online with real people of many nations. I delight in well-done action movies, reluctantly viewing well-done serious film, since theater, novels and stories, and poetry address serious themes more effectively than film. I love cats.
Favorite undergraduate moment: My favorite undergraduate moment occurred when I turned in original poetry for a philosophy class final paper. I received an F with the professor’s comment: “This is not philosophy at all.”
Favorite teaching moment: My favorite moment occurred in Steamer’s Pub in Saginaw when a former student explained to me how he managed a B+ on the Milton final exam after earning D grades on previous exams and papers. He studied.
The five books Paul would like to have with him if marooned on a desert island: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 2. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Volume 1. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Volume 2. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, Volume 1.