Freewheelin', 2021

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Sur

Identifier: b7930402

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate English program. The holdings are primarily bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts degrees.

From the Collection:

Students become eligible to pursue the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree if they have obtained a Master of Arts (M.A.) in English from Monmouth University and demonstrate a proficiency for creative writing through a thesis or equivalent work.

From the Collection:

After completing their 30-credit M.A. in English with a Creative Writing concentration, Monmouth’s M.F.A. students take an additional 18 credits of intensive creative writing study that includes the completion of a book-length Creative Thesis.

From the Collection:

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2021

Creator

Surmonte, Connor J. (Connor Joseph) (1994- ) (Author, Person)
Womack, Kenneth (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 46 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Introduction [excerpt]

The idea for my story Freewheelin' germinated slowly over time from a combination of different workshops and lessons I attended and participated in throughout my time in the creative writing program....

Freewheelin' is a first-person narrative following the protagonist Hammond Holly and essentially his journey coming of age during his first year of university in 2016 and then beyond. Besides Hammond's experience as he begins university, this manuscript also follows Hammond's experiences as an aspiring folk musician playing covers of past folk musicians such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Bob Dylan has always been an important influence on me, and besides the title, I also sprinkle Dylan references throughout Hammond's story - be it in the names of the people he meets, new places he visits around the university and music circuit, or simply the songs he chooses to play when performing on stage....

Besides the scenes focusing on Hammond and his music aspriations, Freewheelin' also focuses substantially on Hammond's time starting university and his experiences as a creative writing undergrad. This story is also very much the beginning of a campus novel, and I tried my best to utilize other contemporary novels like Sally Rooney's Normal People, Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood, and both Teddy Wayne's Loner and Apartment to capture that feeling and atmosphere of a university campus and a freshman's feelings and experiences starting such a new step in his life.