Törzsök Réka/CV

Name: Réka Törzsök

Place and date of birth: Debrecen, 2001

Email: t.reka33@gmail.com

MTMT, Google Scholar, ORCID

 

Education

2025–

University of Debrecen | Doctoral School of Linguistics, Literary and Cultural Studies

British Literature and Culture subprogramme (supervisor: Prof. Tamás Bényei)

2023–2025

University of Debrecen | MA in English Studies

English Literature specialisation (650/2025/BTK; grade: with honours)

2020–2023

University of Debrecen | BA in English Studies

British Literature and Culture track, Business English specialisation (745/2023/BT; grade: with honours)

2015–2020

Mihály Fazekas Secondary School, Debrecen

English-German and STEM-specialised class (P44T065752; attained secondary school diploma with honours in English as a foreign language (expedited), IT (expedited), Hungarian language and literature, history)

 

Teaching Experience

As a part-time instructor at the UD Institute of English and American Studies:

  • Autumn semester 2026:

    • Advanced Academic Writing (BTAN1004MA, MA in English Studies, 1st year)

    • Introduction to Literature and Visual Culture (BTAN2203OMA, MA in English Teacher Training, 2nd year)

    • Skills Development: Writing and Composition (BTAN1002OMA, MA in English Teacher Training, 1st year)

  • Spring semester 2026:

    • Dystopia and Utopia in Anglophone Literature (self-designed seminar course, BTAN32004BA, BA in English Studies, 3rd year)

  • Autumn semester 2025:

    • Two groups of Skills Development: Writing and Composition (AN1002OMA, MA in English Teacher Training, 1st year)

During the MA programme:

  • 30 April, 5 May 2025. Led four seminars within the courses Advanced Writing and Composition (BTAN10006BA) and Skills Development: Listening and Speaking (BTAN10002BA, BTAN1001OMA)

  • 2 April, 23 April, 30 April 2025. Assisted in organising and conducting preparatory sessions for first-year BA and OMA students for the oral component of the end-of-the-year EYE exam (including exam-situation practice and preparation guidance)

  • 24 April 2024. Led a seminar on George Orwell’s 1984 within the MA course British Fiction in the First Half of the Twentieth Century (BTAN2111MA, Prof. Tamás Bényei)

February 2024–: As a tutor at the Writing Lab, Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen:

  • Spring semester 2026–: I serve as an advisor, facilitating the ongoing transformation of the Writing Lab

  • 6 May, 13 May 2026. Assisted in conducting preparatory sessions for first-year BA and OMA students for the oral component of the end-of-the-year EYE exam (including exam-situation practice and preparation guidance)

I supported BA and English teacher training (OMA) students by providing feedback on assignments and essays, advising them on preparation for the EYE exam, and conducting at least one session per semester within the framework of the following courses:

  • Spring semester 2025: Advanced Writing and Composition (BTAN10006BA, BTAN1005OMA, Dr. Emőke Takácsné Tóth)

  • Autumn semester 2024: Skills Development: Writing and Composition (BTAN1002OMA, Dr. Emőke Takácsné Tóth)

  • Spring semester 2024: Advanced Writing and Composition (BTAN10006BA, Dr. Pál Csontos)

 

Membership and Responsibilities in University Organisations

November 2025–: Doctoral Student Representative on the Institute of English and American Studies Council

October 2025–: Doctoral Student Representative on the Literary and Cultural Studies Doctoral Section Council

University of Debrecen | István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies

  • September 2025–: Vice President of the Student Council

  • October 2023–: Student Representative of the English and American Studies specialised group

  • June 2022–: Member of the English and American Studies specialised group

March 2024–June 2026: University of Debrecen | Institute of English and American Studies | SAME (Student Association for Majors in English, organisation and planning of events)

February 2024–: University of Debrecen | Institute of English and American Studies | Writing Lab

October 2022–July 2025: University of Debrecen | Talent Management Programme (DETEP)

 

Membership in Scholarly Organisations

October 2025–: Hungarian Society for the Study of English, European Society for the Study of English

May 2024–: Digital Games Research Association (Finland)

October 2023–: Northeast Popular & American Culture Association (USA)

September 2023–: The Orwell Society (UK)

 

Language Competence

English C2 (Cambridge C2 Proficiency, Grade A; 2019, 500/2429/2), C1 (2019, 2066533), MA in English Studies (2025, 650/2025/BTK)

Spanish B2 (2022, 2371439)

German B2 (2020, P44T065752: advanced level school-leaving exam)

French A1 (two semesters of university electives)

 

Awards and Honours

5 July 2025. Outstanding Student of the University of Debrecen (in recognition of exceptional academic and professional accomplishments)

9 May 2025. University of Debrecen | Certificate of Recognition issued by István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies (for earning 3rd place at the 37th OTDK)

1 December 2023. University of Debrecen | Certificate of Recognition issued by István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies (for earning 2nd place at the 36th OTDK)

13 June 2023. University of Debrecen | Certificate of Recognition issued by the Faculty of Humanities (for outstanding academic achievements and significant public activity), and I gave the valedictory speech at the BA graduation ceremony (https://youtu.be/UIKXRUM14_4?t=5100)

12 May 2023. Best BA-level research poster presentation at the 13th International Student Poster Presentation Conference in English and American Studies (ELTE, online) (BA in literature, history, and culture category)

4 May 2020. Fazekas Award (for outstanding performance in the OKTV competition)

 

Grants and Scholarships

September 2026–August 2027: University Research Scholarship Program | Doctoral Programme Scholarship (Title of research: Intersubjectivity in Orwell’s 1930s Wartime Novels, EKÖP-26-3-I-DE-203, supervisor: Prof. Tamás Bényei)

Spring 2026: University of Debrecen | Scientific Publication Support Program (PTP/0873/2025; PTP/0872/2025)

September 2025–: University of Debrecen | Doctoral Student Supplementary Scholarship

September 2024–June 2025: University Research Scholarship Program | Master’s Degree Scholarship (Title of research: Ethics and Intersubjectivity in Sandra Newman’s Julia, EKÖP-24-2-DE-172, supervisor: Prof. Tamás Bényei)

September 2024–June 2025: National Higher Education Scholarship

September 2023–June 2024: New National Excellence Program | Higher Education Master’s Student Research Scholarship (Title of research: Intersubjective Relations in Orwell’s 1984, ÚNKP-23-2-II-DE-264, supervisor: Prof. Tamás Bényei)

September 2023–June 2024: National Higher Education Scholarship

November 2023: University of Debrecen | MA Professional Scholarship

 

Competition Prizes

16 April 2025. 37th OTDK, English Literature section, 3rd place (Title of research: “No leisure from pleasure”: Economy, Spirituality and the Psyche in Huxley’s Brave New World, supervisor: Prof. Tamás Bényei)

16 May 2024. 27th Partium TDK, English Language and Literature section, 2nd place (Title of research: Spirituality and Intersubjective Relations in Orwell’s 1984, supervisor: Prof. Tamás Bényei)

2 May 2024. University of Debrecen Faculty of Humanities TDK, English Studies, American Studies, Linguistics section, 3rd place (Title of research: Feminist Ethics in Sandra Newman’s Julia, supervisor: Prof. Tamás Bényei)

12 April 2023. 36th OTDK, English Literature 1. section, 2nd place (Title of research: Strange Intimacy: Intersubjective Relations in Orwell’s 1984, supervisor: Prof. Tamás Bényei)

18 May 2020. OKTV, English as a Foreign Language II., 21st place

 

Academic and Research Interests

20th- and 21st-century Anglophone dystopian and utopian literature

The fiction of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley

Philosophical, psychological, and ethical aspects of intersubjectivity

Literary representations of spirituality and mysticism, and theoretical approaches to them

Literary representations of physical violence, and theories of vulnerability and power

Narrativity, temporality, and intersubjective relations in (indie) video games

 

Publications

16. 2027. The Paradoxes of Torture in Orwell’s 1984. Atlantis, vol. 49, no 2. (Q1, forthcoming)

15. 2027. Female Unpersons: Feminist Ambiguities in Sandra Newman’s Julia. Journal of English Studies, vol. 25. https://doi.org/10.18172/jes.6897 (Q2, forthcoming)

14. 2026. Variations on Transgression: A Bataillean Reading of “Lotus Eaters” and “Circe” in Ulysses. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Philologia, vol. 71, no. 3. (Irish Studies: Legacies and Futures special issue) (forthcoming)

13. 2026. Race against the Clock: Procedural Economy, Narrative Immediacy, and Storytelling in 80 Days. Time Trial: Perspectives on Games, Play, and Temporality (forthcoming)

12. 2026. Review of The Oxford Handbook of George Orwell (ed. Nathan Waddell, Oxford University Press, 2025). FOCUS: Papers in English Literary and Cultural Studies, vol. 16. (invited by one of the editors)

11. 2026. Keep the Aspidistra Flying at Ninety: An Enduring, Uncomfortable Mirror (review of George Orwell’s Keep the Aspidistra Flying on the occasion of its 90th anniversary). The Orwell Society, 19 April 2026. https://orwellsociety.com/an-enduring-uncomfortable-mirror

10. 2025. Spirituális üresség Huxley Szép új világ című regényében. Juvenilia XI. Debreceni Bölcsész Diákkörösök Antológiája. Printart-Press, 371–383. https://btk.unideb.hu/sites/default/files/inline-files/JuveniliaXI.pdf

9. 2025. Beyond the Lookout: Language as a Tool of Deception in Firewatch. Acta Ludologica, vol. 8, no. 2, 4–18. https://doi.org/10.34135/actaludologica.2025-8-2.4-18

8. 2025. The Paradox of Apple’s iPad Pro Advertising Strategy. A mi tendenciáink... - Szakkollégiumi tanulmányok 10. Debreceni Egyetem, 61–76. http://hatvaniszakkoli.hu/hu/node/591

7. 2025. From Manor Farm to Contemporary Britain (review of Adam Biles’s Beasts of England on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the publication of Animal Farm). The Orwell Society, 14 Aug. 2025. https://orwellsociety.com/from-manor-farm-to-contemporary-britain

6. 2025. “Bringing off a Successful Swindle”: The Educational Climate and Its Capitalist Discontents in Orwell’s A Clergyman’s Daughter. Brolly: Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 6, no. 1, 95–105. https://journals.lapub.co.uk/index.php/brolly/article/view/2957

5. 2024. Strange Intimacy: Spirituality and Intersubjective Relations in Orwell’s 1984. Brno Studies in English, no. 50, vol. 2, 207–227. https://doi.org/10.5817/BSE2024-2-10

4. 2024. „Tiefer als Freundschaft”: Die Erotik von Orwells 1984. Staféta 9. Partiumi Kiadó, 113–124.

3. 2024. Reimagining Oceania from Julia’s Point of View. (review of Sandra Newman’s Julia) The Orwell Society Journal, no. 24, 44–46. https://orwellsociety.com/member-benefits/orwell-society-journal

2. 2023. „Ami itt történik veled, az örökre szól”: Eszkatológia és testi létezés az 1984-ben. Juvenilia X. Debreceni Bölcsész Diákkörösök Antológiája. Printart-Press, 251–258. https://btk.unideb.hu/sites/default/files/inline-files/Juvenilia%2010_ve%CC%81gleges_106_55.pdf

1. 2023. The Ambiguities of Charlotte Bartlett in E. M. Forster’s A Room with a View. A mi tendenciáink... - Szakkollégiumi tanulmányok 9. University of Debrecen, 193–205. http://hatvaniszakkoli.hu/sites/default/files/kiadvanyok/Kotet_2023.pdf

 

Editorial Work

Spring–summer 2025: Editor-in-chief of A mi tendenciáink... - Szakkollégiumi tanulmányok 10. (joint editor-in-chief with Tamás Dániel Andrékó, István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies)

 

Conference Presentations

25 domestic, 13 abroad; including 5 award-winning presentations

38. 29 August 2026. Playing Survival, Remembering War: Mnemonic Mechanisms and Moral Decision-Making in This War of Mine. A Letter to Video Games: The Mechanisms of Emotions (online)

37. 15 May 2026. Variations on Transgression: A Bataillean Reading of “Lotus Eaters” and “Circe” in Ulysses. István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2026. évi Tavaszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

36. 7 May 2026. “Delude the world to its undoing”: War, Religion, and Ethics in Theodora Wilson Wilson’s The Last Weapon. Károli English Studies Conference 2026, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church, Budapest

35. 30 January 2026. Being and Belonging: Intersubjectivity in Twentieth-Century English Dystopian Fiction. PhD Workshop, Institute of English Studies, University of Pécs

34. 20 January 2026. Sinning against the Money-God: Orwell’s Keep the Aspidistra Flying as Religious Moral Allegory. 3rd Debrecen International Graduate and Postgraduate Workshop, Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen

33. 4 December 2025. What Innocence Had Wrought: Interpersonal Dynamics in Ian McEwan’s The Innocent and George Orwell’s 1984. István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2025. évi Őszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

32. 28 November 2025. The Conscious Synthesis: Western Psychology and Eastern Spiritual Thought in Huxley’s Island. VII. Networks International Conference, Partium Christian University and Debrecen Reformed Theological University, Romania–Hungary (online)

31. 10 October 2025. Farmyard Politics Revisited: Violence and Satire in Adam Biles’s Beasts of England. 2025 Northeast Popular & American Culture Association Annual Conference, USA (online)

30. 20 June 2025. Etika és interszubjektivitás Sandra Newman Julia című regényében. EKÖP Institutional Conference, University of Debrecen (as part of my EKÖP-24-2-DE-172 grant project)

29. 5 June 2025. A Race Against the Clock: Temporality and Narrative Immediacy in 80 Days. Ludonarratives: Stories, Art, and Play in Game Studies Young Scholars’ Conference, University of Szczecin, Poland (online)

28. 9 May 2025. “Bringing off a successful swindle”: The Educational Climate and Its Capitalist Discontents in Orwell’s A Clergyman’s Daughter. István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2025. évi Tavaszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

27. 8 May 2025. Female Unpersons: Feminist Ambiguities in Sandra Newman’s Julia. Károli English Studies Conference 2025, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church, Budapest

26. 16 April 2025. “No leisure from pleasure”: Economy, Spirituality and the Psyche in Huxley’s Brave New World. 37th OTDK, University of Szeged

25. 6 December 2024. Seduction and Survival: Femme Fatale Identity in Sandra Newman’s Julia. István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2024. évi Őszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

24. 29 November 2024. “Happiness has got to be paid for”: Bataillean Economy in Huxley’s Brave New World. Institute of English and American Studies TDK, University of Debrecen

23. 21 November 2024. Harnessing the Accursed Share in Huxley’s Brave New World. Autumn 2024 Pre-TDK Workshop, István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, Debrecen

22. 8 November 2024. „Mindenki mindenkihez tartozik”: Eroticizmus Huxley Szép új világ című regényében. VII. Partium-konferencia, Partium Christian University, Oradea, Romania

21. 3 October 2024. “Everyone belongs to everyone else”: Bataillean Eroticism in Huxley’s Brave New World. 2024 Northeast Popular & American Culture Association Annual Conference, USA (online)

20. 25 June 2024. Pain, Power, Perversion: The Tortured Body in Orwell’s 1984. (Inter)Disciplinary Bodies, Brunel University London, UK

19. 17 June 2024. Interszubjektív kapcsolatok George Orwell 1984 című regényében. ÚNKP Institutional Conference, University of Debrecen (online, as part of my ÚNKP-23-2-II-DE-264 grant project)

18. 17 May 2024. Beyond the Frontlines: Exploring Survival, Morality and Narrative in This War of Mine. Digital Games as Cultural and Literary Narratives, Hacettepe University, Turkey (online)

17. 16 May 2024. Spirituality and Intersubjective Relations in Orwell’s 1984. 27th Partiumi TDK, Partium Christian University, Oradea, Romania

16. 10 May 2024. Narrative Design and Intersubjectivity in Firewatch. István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2024. évi Tavaszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

15. 2 May 2024. Feminist Ethics in Sandra Newman’s Julia. Faculty of Humanities TDK, University of Debrecen

14. 25 April 2024. Carol Gilligan’s Ethics of Care in Sandra Newman’s Julia. Spring 2024 Pre-TDK Workshop, István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, Debrecen

13. 18 April 2024. “Unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation”: Scientific Experimentation in Frankenstein and The Island of Doctor Moreau. Re-Imagining the Victorians, Queen’s University, Canada (online)

12. 9 February 2024. Beyond the Lookout: Discursive Design in Firewatch. International Conference on Literature, Digital Popular Culture and the Evolving Narrative, Christ (Deemed to be University) Delhi NCR Campus, India (online)

11. 23 January 2024. Language as a Torture Instrument in Orwell’s 1984. 2nd Debrecen International Graduate and Postgraduate Workshop, Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen

10. 1 December 2023. Bataillean Sacrifice in Orwell’s 1984. István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2023. évi Őszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

9. 10 November 2023. „Ami mélyebben gyökeredzik, mint a barátság”: Eroticizmus Orwell 1984-ében. VI. Partium-konferencia, Partium Christian University, Oradea, Romania

8. 21 October 2023. Language as a Tool of Deception in Firewatch. Games and Language Conference, Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen

7. 13 October 2023. “Deeper than friendship”: The Eroticism of 1984. 2023 Northeast Popular & American Culture Association Annual Virtual Conference, USA (online)

6. 12 May 2023. “What happens to you here is for ever”: The Eschatology of 1984. 13th International Student Poster Presentation Conference in English and American Studies, ELTE, Budapest (online)

5. 28 April 2023. The Ambiguities of Charlotte Bartlett in E. M. Forster’s A Room with a View. István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2023. évi Tavaszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

4. 12 April 2023. Strange Intimacy: Intersubjective Relations in Orwell’s 1984. 36th OTDK, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church, Budapest

3. 8 December 2022. “Everything will be dead inside you”: Torture and Confession in 1984. István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2022. évi Őszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

2. 18 November 2022. “Everything will be dead inside you”: Torture and Confession in 1984. Institute of English and American Studies TDK, University of Debrecen

1. 22 April 2022. Parallels between Winston Smith’s Relationship with Julia and O’Brien in George Orwell’s 1984. Faculty of Humanities TDK, University of Debrecen

 

Professional and Community Activity

15 May 2026. Chaired the “Modern Anglo-American Literature and Culture” section (with Éva Urbán), István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies, 2026. évi Tavaszi Tudományos Hallgatói Konferencia, Debrecen

30 April 2026. Head organiser of the Spring 2026 Pre-TDK Workshop (István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies)

Autumn 2025–spring 2026: Assisted in organising the Institute of English and American Studies’ DEbate competition for secondary school students

Autumn 2025: One of the lead student organisers involved in the planning and facilitating of the 3rd Debrecen International Graduate and Postgraduate Workshop, and I also chaired the PhD student panel titled “Cultural Studies and Religion”, UD Institute of English and American Studies

March 2025–: Writing assessor for The Orwell Youth Prize competition organised by The Orwell Foundation (provided professional assessment of British students’ work in argumentative essays, journalism, short stories, poems, and game designs; Spring 2026: 210+ entries, Spring 2025: 150+ entries)

21 November 2024. Head organiser of the Autumn 2024 Pre-TDK Workshop (István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies)

24-25 October 2024. Participation as a student assistant in organising and facilitating the “Looking Back and Ahead: Exploring Uniquely Canadian Cultural Narratives” conference, UD Institute of English and American Studies

21-23 August 2024. Participation as a student assistant in organising and facilitating the “Johnson-Reed 100 Years Later” conference, UD Institute of English and American Studies

25 April 2024. Head organiser of the Spring 2024 Pre-TDK Workshop (István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies)

 

Academic Promotional Activity

19 November 2025. Held two Institute information sessions and one open class at DEXPO

26 September 2025. Assisted in organising and conducting the Institute of English and American Studies’ programme promoting British culture at UD Researchers’ Night

20 November 2024. As Student Representative of the specialised group, promoted István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies and UD talent management at DEXPO

7 December 2023. As Student Representative of the specialised group, promoted István Hatvani College for Advanced Studies and UD talent management at the career day of Árpád Tóth Secondary School of Debrecen

30 September 2022. Assisted in conducting the Institute of English and American Studies’ programme promoting Irish culture at UD Researchers’ Night

 

Training and Courses

2 September 2025. Teaching Writing Specialization, John Hopkins University (Coursera, online)

5 August 2025. University Teaching, The University of Hong Kong (Coursera, online)

26 July 2025. Google Project Management: Professional Certificate (Coursera, online)

21 March 2025. Totalitarian Novels, Hillsdale College (USA, online)

8 July 2024. Certified Peer Reviewer Course, Elsevier Researcher Academy (Denmark, online)

21 May 2024. George Orwell and Nineteen Eighty-Four, The Open University (UK, online)

February–June 2021: Participation in the online program “International Speaking Skills Development” of the University of Debrecen (Institute of English and American Studies) and Indiana University Bloomington (Department of Second Language Studies, USA)

 

 

Debrecen, 25 August 2026

 

Last update: 2026. 08. 27. 12:29