I like this guy, yea he's really self absorbed but he's extremely knowledgable about his subject. I enjoyed going to class and hearing his stories.

Sure, he likes to talk, but the man's smart. He knows his topic and if you can write a decent essay you'll be fine.

I loved Margaritis BECAUSE he is arrogant, he dresses like a 40's movie star, he speaks with a psuedo-Brit accent, even though he grew up in Whatcom county, he still holds a grudge against every jock who ever picked on him, and HE KNOWS HIS STUFF!

Dr. Margaritis' class is fun, interesting, and you actually learn something new.

He's tough on stupidity, true, but he won't let the intelligent students down. He's fun, he's snappy, his arrogance is earned enough to be delightful.

This class is just wonderful. He makes Shakespeare so much more comprehensible--it's amazing. The reading quizzes aren't good, but it's worth it.

I just went OVER TO HIS HOUSE! Yeah, and guess what?! He MADE ME COFFEE!! Yeah, you know it.

Very easy class made very interesting. I did not observe any favoritism, there may be some true to the self-absorption accusation

He knows a lot about his subject. Make sure you do all the reading or you'll get lost during class. He grades pretty fairly but won't sugercoat it if he doesn't like the paper. Once you adjust to his manner of speaking, you can really take his class seriously.

don't take this class if you are taking it for the grade- even he'll tell you that. you have to be interrested- and that's not hard, it's great material. if you give him an idea he'll elaborate on it, but he won't spoon feed interpret it. interresting, intelligent class

This guy knows tons about lit and is so passionate about it that its fun to hear what he has to say. He knows lots of classical languages, which is interesting when reading classical works.

Wow, even though he said the class would be hard...it was worse than I thought. Tons of reading. He is VERY knowlegable. Grading is tough. Quizzes were random, several days in a row, but they were easy if you had done the reading.

GOLD GOLD GOLD. If you are interesting in Lit or anything at all, I recommend this class, He is very knowledgbale, presentable, and fantastic. It is a challenging course, but not hard to get a decent grade. Speak up. It you love learning, this is the man you need.

Margartis was the best professor I encountered at WWU and made my entire experience there worthwhile. Not one of my other profs was as experienced or as knowledgeable as he in his field. I only wish he'd taught more.

Dr. Margaritis made the honors classes very interesting. I enjoyed studying the classics with this man, who spoke most of the languages and had studied them extensively. His teaching style was also superb. I recommend him wholeheartedly.

Dr. Margaritis rocks! If you want an easy class, don't take a class from him. It WILL challenge you! Quit whining that he's too hard- we're in college now!!

He's amazing, take his class.

great professor - has hilarious but genuine accent from who-knows-where.. the class is all discussion which is really interesting if you're into it, and you are graded on 2 papers and a final. He was extremely helpful and understanding when I had a bad circumstance come up and gave me literally until whenever to turn in a paper. awesome!!

I've been at Western for a while now and can wholeheartedly say that Dr. Margaritis is the best prof, probably the best teacher I've ever had! Don't listen to the whiny freshmen complain that he's too hard or whatever, he is challenging but you will learn soooo much. He's got a funny accent, is probably gay, a little stuck up, but WHO CARES????

Wow, he's a phenom in the classroom. One of the few classes I've looked forward to on a daily basis. Discussions were incredible. The man is a genius, completely competent and one of the most eloquent speakers I have ever heard. And frankly, I think it's badass that he dresses like a secret agent.

Margaritis is a UNIVERSITY professor... Astounding teacher... All negative ratings below are from students fresh out of high school who need their hands held through everything... if this is you don't take him.

I took Honors 103, 104 and 105 with Dr. Margaritis, and he is by far the best professor I have had yet at Western... period. So intelligent and even for those of us who are not English majors, during those classes, I actually comprehended changing. Not for the weak of heart though. :-)

Doesn't work for everybody, but I personally thought he was amazing. Mostly lecture based, open to participation--though rather stubborn. If you can write to his dry-wit sense of humor and tackle original subjects not discussed in class, you'll be just fine.

If you are stupid, don't like writing, or don't appreciate literature- you probably won't like the class and definitely won't get a good grade. Although he seems very threatening in respect to grades, as a freshman in my first quarter I did fine and am happy to be taking him again next quarter. But again, I don't fall into the latter categories.

the most amazing professor ever. anyone who says otherwise just doesn't appreciate intellect at its finest. he is literally a genius. im not a suckup or any of that crap but i still am in love with him. he is always completely articulate and eloquent... if you enjoy philosophical conversations then he is the professor for you.

This man is a genius. He is the best teacher I have ever had. He is a fair grader, and makes the students really think about the books we read, instead of just blazing through them mindlessly. Great great man, take anything you can get from him.

Dr. M. is wonderful. :) Fantastic lecturer, very entertaining (to me, at least), and ridiculously intelligent. Can be intimidating to speak out in class, but don't let that scare you off. He's a fair (even kind) grader of in-class essays. I was a little worried about my grade, but I did very well. Hope to take more from him in the future!

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Margaritis is incredibly intelligent and the most entertaining professor I've ever had. I didn't even read the books but somehow did great on the essays, he's really not as tough a grader as he says.

He is probably one of the most intelligent people I've ever met. But he's not ever condescending and really appreciates participation and discussion. The work is tough, this definitely isn't a class most people could sail through.

I enjoyed reading before his class but now I am addicted. His knowledge of literature is amazing. He truly appreciates great works. I didn't know what to think of him at first either, but I now plan on taking his class as often as I can. And yes, the accent is real and he is a tough but fair grader.If you don't enjoy reading avoid his class.

Nicholas Margaritis is the man, pretty much. I have never enjoyed a literature course so much. If you're a slacker, don't take him, but if you're there to learn and engage with the text, it's worth your time. GREAT lecturer, depth of knowledge is amazing. To some folks he seems pretentious, I'm sure, but he's brilliant, so it's earned.

If you are willing to put serious work into this class it will pay off big time. Dr. Margaritis is a character, but he has earned his quirkiness. He's brilliant and will expand your mind if you let him. You must attend this class and not only do the readings, but RE-READ. His classes are completely worth the challenge and have changed my life.

Not taking Margaritis as a honors student or English major would be doing a total disservice to yourself. Even if you hate him, you'd get something out of his class. He's remarkably intelligent and worthwhile to listen to. Two hour classes sailed by. It's not hard to get a B out of this class, but I didn't figure out the recipe to get an A.

Very intelligent, enthusiastic teacher

One of the most articulate people I know. You can definitely get a lot out of his class, even if you're only taking it to satisfy certain requirements.

strict but helpful. Impossible perhaps to get an A in!!

Margaritis is an unbelievable instructor, one of the best I've had. Come to class ready to take a lot of notes though! If you listen, take in everything said, and aren't afraid to go out on a limb and put a little insight into your literary analysis, you should do well in the class. He is funny, incredibly intelligent, and just excellent overall!

I LOVE this professor. Many dislike him of his haughtiness but I find him to be a very intriguing person. I admit the tests can be odd but he is very passionate about his books and theer contents. The book may be uninteresting but the discussions I find are quite the contrary as well as making things realate to one another more easily.

He's very funny and intelligent. Athough he can be a bit intimidating, he acknowledges all comments and seems to do his best to make students feel comfortable. His classes can be difficult, so go everyday or you WILL miss out. His class was more challenging than I expected, but very interesting. I LOVED his class and got so much out of it.

A god amongst children. At least, that's what he'll have you believe. He's haughty as hell, but for a good reason. The BEST teacher I've had, hands down. Prepare to be enthralled, excited and enthused about the subject. He's one of the most interesting people here. Definitely recommended. Do the reading and engage: that's the recipe to get an A.

Also took 281 from him. Might seem pretentious at first, but damn if he isn't the most well-read individual I've ever known. Only prof I've had willing to assign long, truly deep works in their entirety. Paradise Lost, Faerie Queene, Orlando Furioso in 308; Metamorphoses, Oresteia, Odyssey in 281. Read the book, take an essay test. No nonsense.

Wears cool clothes, likes great music, reads and teaches excellent, challenging material; also a world traveler who speaks several languages (this becomes slightly annoying but maybe I'm just jealous). His classes really aren't more difficult than a focused student should expect from a literature class; he's one of the great teachers at Western.

Prof. Margaritis is the BEST professor I've ever had, hands down. Every class is incredibly stimulating and entertaining. I looked forward to that class every day, and never missed a session. He is challenging, and demands that you work for your grade, but if you really want to learn, take a class from him. That man knows his literature.

Fantastic professor: challenging, enlightening, and open minded. He made me realize that how much knowledge you gain definitely outweighs a given letter grade. His lectures may appear pretentious, but he is just very well learned. Take his courses if you want to actually take something with you when you acquire your degree and start a career.

Margaritis is extremely witty. I go to class and am just floored by his never-ending reserve of literary knowledge. He leads fascinating class discussions and encourages his students do delve deeply into the required material. However, if you want an easy A, Margaritis isnt the guy to give you it.

Be bold. Take academic risks. Don't take the middle route. You may fall burning from the chariot but the fall will be totally worth it!

I personally adore Professor Margaritis! He is the most well read, intelligent witty man. He knows so much about EVERYTHING and he will tell you that he's "smart enough for the both of you" I didnt do that well in the class but I was ok with it because I learned so much. take his classes if you wanna learn and be REALLY challenged.

Do not believe any negative feedback; the man himself is kind and understanding, it is the texts he chooses that are difficult. Anyone who appreciates knowledge will love his classes. It is possible to earn an A but don't expect one on first blush. Follow his advice in order to become more intelligent. One of the very best teachers anywhere.

He is an awesome prof. Write personal, well supported, original papers and you're in the clear. He intimidated me at first, but turned out to be pretty cool. He is very well read, and helpful if you ask him for help. Take him at least once during your time at western

Shakespeare was a BLAST with him. You can tell he really loves this stuff. and it's not just a lecture class. In face he gets upset if people aren't contributing to the discussion of the plays. It's not an easy A. In fact I don't know anyone who got an A. But it's so worth it. I'm happy with my B in that class. I'll never forget this class.

I have had Margaritis 3 times and I love his classes. His approach to literature is comprehensive and in-depth, and can be challenging. He's not an easy grader and there's always a lot of reading, but if you're struggling just go to office hours and speak up in class and you'll be OK. Oh, and the accent... it's real, he grew up in Greece.

Brilliant, talented. Looks like John Waters, has a decadent-dilettante thing going for him, unique gender self-styling, a beautiful vocabulary, and a highly loquacious, performative, yet utterly sincere manner of lecturing and narrating personal anecdotes. Don't confuse semi-theatrical enthusiasm with pretension. A radiant, kind soul.Bless him.

Margaritis is pretentious, but he has good reason to be! He's wickedly smart and eloquent. It can be intimidating, but if you just relax and engage in the discussions you'll end up understanding the literature better than you thought you ever could.

Margaritis is not pretentious. That word is not right, even though you mean well. He is theatrical, smart, iconoclastic with old-fashioned sensibilities about education and isn't afraid to speak his mind or outlaw most technology and food in his class room. But none of this is a pretense, it's all genuine and sincere, if a bit flamboyant.

Intimidating? Yes. However, it's an amazing class. He has high standards and expects you to participate but his class is totally worth it. Plus it's Shakespeare so that is awesome in and of itself. He gives good guidelines so read and pay attention and participate and you should do well.

Had him for Honors 103 and 104. I would NEVER take one of his regular level classes because of how often he came into class blatantly insulting the intelligence levels of his non-honors students. Completely put me off his teaching. Profs should not insult other students in front of their classes. Without class and disrespectful.

MARGARITIS IS BRILLIANT. You will seriously be doing yourself a favor by taking his class. One of the best professors I have ever had. Take his class if you want to challenge yourself to learn something new.

Intimidating by the level of knowledge he has, but you are doing yourself a favor by taking this level of class. It forces you to pay attention and push yourself. Totally worth it, he is also a bit witty.

Dr. Margaritis has instilled in me a passion for learning. He is intelligent, helpful and has a great sense of humor. His slight accent makes listening enjoyable and his sense of style adds comic relief to the classroom environment. Take his class and come prepared every day: what you put into your grade it what you'll get out of it. Enjoy!

Margaritis is a very entertaining professor and an all around great teacher. He likes to see in class discussion, so make sure to speak up. He is a bit intimidating but he honestly wants to hear your opinion more than anything. Not an easy A, but any of his classes are worth taking. He didn't give tests or finals to Honors.

I really don't know what people are complaning about-Dr. Margaritis is a great teacher!What to expect:He's not pretentious at all,he just really knows his stuff.Read the material and you'll be perfectly ready for lecture(and yes,occasional pop quizzes),which basically count as a study guide in itself.And you'll come to enjoy the accent and suits :)

Margaritis is a crack up. During the first week of class I was really put off by his seeming pretentiousness and his silly accent, but after about two weeks I came to realize that he can back everything up and that he's totally legit. He's brilliant and super quirky if you put the effort into understanding him. Definitely a worth-while class.

I've had Margaritis for two classes and done perfectly well in both. He has a wonderfully witty and often dry sense of humor that can be quite enjoyable... and he knows his stuff inside out and backwards. I had to apply myself a little more to do well in his class, but don't we come to university to be challenged and asked to dig a little deeper?

I love Dr. Margaritis. He truly makes me love being an English major and I only wish I could take more classes with him. I think the main reason people complain about him is because they expect they can read most of a book and get an A on an essay and then are frustrated when they get a C. He is insightful and brilliant and one of the best profs.

Dr. Margaritis is fantastic. He is intimidating at first, but if you really listen you'll be amazed at the wisdom and intelligence he has. I think everyone should take a class from him. He really is one of Western's best. I'm really happy that I got to take a class with him and my experience at WWU is bettered for it!

His accent & affectations are laughable, but his English chops are not. On a daily basis he will go from perfectly contextualizing a difficult, obscure line to getting caught up in the sound of his voice. He'll read Antigone in the original Greek with the dramatic flourish of Nic Cage auditioning for ConAir. Immensely flawed, somehow great, prof.

Margaritis is a shockingly intelligent person. His passion for his subject shines through his teaching and makes a two hour lecture period fly by. He is a hard grader, & the tests are all in class essays, but the material & his teaching make class so interesting that even the tests are kind of fun. His devotion to his life's work is inspirational.

Incredibly intelligent & knowledgable. He can translate many languages (French, Latin, Russian, etc.) fluently & with ease. He's able to unravel complex texts into comprehensible & interesting. He's really strict about his classroom policies, & tends to express his personal views & beliefs, but he's my 1st choice for tough texts.

I worked all I had in this class and came out with a B, which is pretty decent according to the syllabus. Read the works closely and speak your mind. Pretty informal discussions and tests, but interesting and challenging nonetheless. My childhood fantasy of the Medieval period was rekindled. So much fun.

Margaritis is a brilliant man, and his classes are taught in that simple, old-fashioned way where a book is assigned, discussed, and occasionally written about. There are no frills or new-age approaches to learning. He is incredibly well-versed in the assigned texts, not to mention his encyclopedic knowledge generally. Highly recommended.

Some people hate him; some people love him. I loved him because he was challenging and uncompromising while sharing his love of the material. He expects you to be engaged with the material and bring your best when you come to class, unlike most professors . A throwback to when college really meant something. We need more like him.

Margaritis is fascinating. The amount of connections and materials that he can reference is astounding. The tests are essay exams. He says from the start that he rarely gives A's. You have to actively participate in group discussions. It's a tricky class, but he's a great guy though.

Margaritis is my pick for best professor at Western. He's not easy. He's not casual. He's not laid-back. But he is brilliant, engaging, and hilarious. He's the sort of professor that no college should have too many of, but which every college should have at least one of. You owe it to yourself to take him at least once. Highly, highly recommended.

awesome guy. very smart, very articulate. a little pompous from time to time. likes to talk about himself. expects a lot from his students, but if you give him that you'll really enjoy taking his classes.

Margaritis is absolutely fantastic. If you're comfortable with Shakespeare on a comprehension level, Intro to Shakespeare should not be difficult for you. Some have said that he likes to hear himself speak, but, if so, he is quite justified. This class (and I imagine all of his classes) is infinitely more valuable than the credit its worth.

Definitely one of the best profs I have ever had. He is so passionate about what he teaches, and he gets excited when the class participates. Get ready to bring new ideas to the table if you want a good grade, he definitely makes you work for it. This class was challenging yet rewarding. I would definitely take another class taught by him.

It was a privileged to learn from Nicholas Margaritis. I took several different classes from him. He is a harsh grader, but the A- he once gave me is one of the most relevant compliments I've ever received. And if he ever gave me a bad grade, I knew it was because I had fallen short of what I was capable of. If you love English, TAKE HIS CLASS.

I second the notion that Margaritis is the type of professor no university should have too many of, but each should have at least one of. He is eccentric and maybe a little pretentious, but for good reason-this guy KNOWS literature to a ridiculous extent. I never used to do the reading for classes,but he motivated me to not only do it but enjoy it.

Margaritis is without a doubt the most well versed and intelligent instructor in literature I have ever encountered. His lectures are extremely engaging and demonstrate his vast wealth of knowledge of and passion for the subject he teaches. His pretentiousness is well deserved and never unfriendly. The guy is brilliant and hilarious. Recommend 100%

This is an honors class so expect tough grading. Despite a sometimes pompous disposition (he quotes Hamlet like everyone has memorized the play), his lectures are well lead and he is full of fascinating information and experiences. Take if you're willing to put in the work for a good reward.

One of my favorite classes

If you want an easy class, dont take him. If you want to work for a good grade and have an engaging in-class discussion, he's your man. Exceedingly knowledgeable, and funny (if a bit pretentious). More than willing to help if you reach out.

Margaritis is an excellent lecture-style professor and leads good/useful discussions. Lots of reading but your grade is entirely based on three 1000-word essays (get second opinions on those, they're not easy). Very knowledgeable, well-read, interesting, and amusing person. Any pretentiousness is well-earned. Will take again.

Dr. Margaritis knows his stuff, any class you take, he is a wealth of knowledge and will not let you down if you work hard. If you put in the time, so will he. His classes have been my favorite throughout my college experience. While his teaching is an acquired taste, he is also a magnificent professor who expects a lot, but is truly passionate.

Great class, professor was always interesting and we got to watch some movies. You have to stay on top of the reading and watch out for his pop quizes, his grading is tough but overall fair.

Lots of reading!!! Grade based on three papers the entire quarter. Pretty tough grader on those, but his office hours really help!! Enjoyed the discussions. Not a big fan of the reading material, but he made it fun for the most part.

Margaritis has very nice insights on his books. If you are into deeply reviewing literature he is your guy. His class is tough though but with good preparation, especially if you are decent at composing arguments you can do well. Listen in class and take notes and craft your arguments using that and you will do well. Read before class, pop quizzes

Very few professors are more deserving of respect for sheer intellect and eloquence. This is a man who expects students to read in order to gain as much as possible from his incredibly learned lectures, often incorporating details from seemingly disparate fields into a cohesive, spell-binding discussion. Professors like this are rare, believe me.

People who say he's awful don't understand his teaching style; he's a very particular professor and likes things a certain way, if you follow his instructions you'll be fine. He looks for participation and an attempt to match his level intellectually. The essays are vague so that you can develop your own thoughts, he wants to hear what you think.

I despised Margaritis. He seemed condasending to the point that I didn't want to speek becauce I thought he might laugh at how stupid I was. He really began to grow on me, however. He actually just wants students to participate and bring ideas to the table. He respects those who actually do so. He might be a little condescending, but he tries.

Margaritis has very distinct style and character, which was intimidating at first. However, he's truly interested what students have to say. 103 is a seminar, so you discuss texts and write essays. He grades pretty strict compared to what I was used to from highschool, but he gives clear feedback and encourages you to dig deep into the material.

Dr. Margaritis is undoubtedly a pompous man, yet he has a right to his pomposity given that he has a keen and sharp intellect from a lifetime studying great literature -- a passion he loves to share with zeal. Imagine the love child of John Cleese and Salvador Dali and you have Dr. Margaritis, in terms of love for art and humor -- and appearance.