English 165

Special Topics: Modern Poetry

Book List

Ramazani, Ellman, O'Clair , Jahan : The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry, 3rd Ed. (2 Volumes, paperback)

Other Readings and Media

A Course Reader of the out-of-print The Poetics of the New American Poetry, available at Copy Central on Bancroft

Description

The reading and writing assignments—linked with the lectures and class discussions—are intended to develop students’ ability to analyze, understand, and interpret modern poetry, as they gain greater authority in critical writing. The course will focus on influential writers and poems from Whitman to Snyder. Special attention will be paid to the essential poetic aspects of idea, image, and music, but we will also examine the content (philosophical, historical, psychological, social, etc.) of the poems and how their innovative forms shape and extend that content. Students will be expected to participate fully in class discussions and to write critical papers effectively arguing how the works achieve their particular aims.

This course is open to English majors only.

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