Chris Benfey - Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

Professor: Chris Benfey

Department: English

College: Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I cannot imagine what my four years at Mount Holyoke would look like without Prof. Benfey. He is very caring and always willing to help. In addition to being a great teacher, he is an excellent academic advisor.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Benfey is hilarious! He inserts his wonderful sense of humor into lectures and makes talking and writing about the texts painless. He is also thoughtful with all assignments and open to new and creative ideas. Really just a wonderful guy who is there to make sure you learn a lot and have fun doing so.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG199
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The most incredible professor I have ever had and the reason I minored in English. I cannot recommend him enough.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FYSEM-110EM
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I love Proffesor Benfey! His class was and always will be my favorite. He was hilarious and engaging in his lectures. And whilst at times the class had a lot of work, he made it interesting and was always there to help.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FYSEM-110EM
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I loved Professor Benfey. He was so funny, and while it never felt like we were doing that much in the class, I learned so much. He always encouraged us to find the most in our readings, but made sure we had enough information for our papers.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I absolutely loved this class and professor. I had a lot of opportunities to talk in class and the environment was relaxed but respectful. I'd 100% take more classes with Benfey. He's brilliant and he must know it, but he never made the class feel like our opinions were less important or valid than his.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG341
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ahhh Benfey. So sad he's not teaching next year. He really inspired and encouraged me with my writing, and made me feel like I was cut out for grad school. You can honestly get away with not doing the reading once in awhile, but honestly do it anyway, because it sucks to not be able to engage in discussion with him. Manageable reading and workload.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Incredible Professor, made me love literature even more. Made readings easy to tackle and interesting class discussions. He knows so much, definitely recommend.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I don't think he is well-prepared at all. Spends a lot of time just shooting off rhetorical questions that are prosaic and not at all thought-provoking. An easy 'A' if you need it -not for real Literature buffs who are in for good reads and analysis. He is quite entertaining though (at the beginning).

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG244
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof. Benfey is brilliant, funny and well-prepared. This is an excellent class (Early Am Lit) whether you are and English major or just need to fulfill a humanities req. The readings are short and interesting, lectures are brilliant and you write two papers and mid-term. You really can't go wrong.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Chris is very intelligent and a great professor. His class was somewhat easy (only 3 papers if I remember right), but I enjoyed going to it, and I learned a lot. It was always very thought-provoking and interesting. Chris is brilliant, and he really cares about his work and his students.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Mr. Benfey is so quirky and funny!! He always has a funny story, and can drone on about it a little, but if you like a dry wit he's the one for you! He's too much!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG353
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

So easygoing, understanding, stimulating, hilarious...even if you don't like English, take a class with Benfey, and if you do, don't graduate without taking one with him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGSECT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is amazing! Even his anecdotal stuff ends up being helpful in the end. Seriously! Take his class! MY FAVORITE PROFESSOR EVER!!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Amazing Prof. who knows his stuff. I recommend everyone takes a class with him.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

My first-year seminar was quite good. Prof Benfey really got me thinking, tho the material at the beginning was a bit slow. He is funny and has the craziest remarks, so be prepared for him to go off on a tangent. The classwork was pretty easy, so if you want an interesting and relevent first year seminar (emily dickinson), its a good choice.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

kind of a strange guy, great sense of humor and has some interesting observations, but the stuff we read for the class was just so boring. the only good thing about the class were his quiky observations about the readings/authors. i guess that makes him a good prof, but he did pick the horrible readings, so i'd be hesitant to take another class wit

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Lovely human being. Cannot say enough about him. Must take a class with him.One of the most, if not the most brilliant, professor on campus. He is!!Caring, and wicked sense of humor. Love this man, just love him! He is the best! Not intimidating,easy going, passionate man and just a wonderful person. He is this good!Take any class he offers- :)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

As both an advisor and teacher he is very helpful. I loved his class. He has a way of taking material that I don't enjoy and making it both clear and thought-provoking. English majors must take one of his classes if possible.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: NONE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I didn't have Prof. Benfey for a class, but I did work with him as a member of the student board of the American Studies Department. He is a passionate, intelligent, and respected scholar. Just another reason why MHC profs are the best.