The purpose of this course is to introduce you to poetry as a genre of literature and acquaint you with a wide variety of British and American poets. By the end of the semester you should be able to identify and understand the characteristics and elements of poetry; apply techniques of literary analysis to poems; and understand the social and historical contexts in which some of these poems were written.
Required texts: The Discovery of Poetry (2nd ed.), Frances Mayes
Dictionary (Literary); E-Reserves
Requirements, Activities & Grading:
Exams – Mid-term & Final (40%)
Papers – Two Explications, 5 pages, typed (30%)
Poetry Recitation – A poem, of sonnet length, to be recited in front of the class (10%)
Group Explication – Explication of 2 poems to be presented in front of class (10%)
Class Participation & Attendance – Participation refers to your contributions to our discussions in class. Three absences are permitted without penalty. (If you have a very good reason for missing class, call or e-mail me in advance or as soon after the absence as possible.) After that, you’re out of luck and out of the class. (10%)
You are responsible for keeping up with reading and writing assignments for any class that you miss. Call or e-mail me if you are unsure about an assignment.
Repeated late entrances or early exits from class are rude and disruptive, as are cell phones ringing in class. To avoid your embarrassment and my wrath, please avoid all lapses in etiquette.
Important Information:
Writing Center: Located in 101 McIver and open Mon-Thurs, 9am-8pm, and Fri 9am-3pm, the Writing Center is an excellent place to get advice, suggestions, instruction or moral support when you are writing a paper for this or any other class.
Academic Integrity Policy: Be sure to familiarize yourself with the University’s Academic Integrity Policy (particularly the section on plagiarism) which is printed in your student calendar/handbook and available on-line at http://saf.dept.uncg.edu/studiscp/Honor.html.
SYLLABUS
T 8/16 Introduction/Syllabus/Text; Mayes Preface v-ix, pp. 584-90
TH 8/18 The Art & Language of Poetry; Mayes’ Index of Terms & Topics
T 8/23 Poetry Timeline
TH 8/25 How to Explicate a Poem; Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
T 8/30 Group Explications
TH 9/1 Presentation of Group Explications (Answers to Questions)
T 9/6 Genres of Poetry
TH 9/8 Sonnets: English & Italian, Mayes 341-42, 346-49, 376-78
T 9/13 Sonnets for Study: Wyatt, Donne, Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats
TH 9/15 Sonnets Continued: Frost, McKay, Millay, Randall, Ransom
T 9/20 In-Class Workshop Paper #1: Sonnet Explication
TH 9/22 Dramatic Monologues: Mayes 155-62; Browning (161), Spera
T 9/27 Paper #1 Due (Sonnet Explication); Other Traditional Forms
TH 9/29 Other Traditional Forms Continued, Mayes 343-46, Dickinson
TH 10/4 Review for the Mid-term
TH 10/6 Mid-term Exam
TH 10/13 Return Papers & Mid-terms
T 10/18 Occasional Poems; Mayes 406-7; 452-56 (Auden, Housman)
TH 10/20 Free Verse: Mayes 303-21; Whitman (456)
T 10/25 Poems on a Painting; Mayes 431-35
TH 10/27 Poems about War; Mayes 435-39 (Owen 169-70; Jarrell)
T 11/1 Poems about Love (Mayes 262-3, 471-72; Millay, Rich)
TH 11/3 Group Explications #2
T 11/8 Presentation of Group Explications #2
TH 11/10 Workshop for Paper #2
T 11/15 Poets In-Depth: Robert Frost
TH 11/17 Poets In-Depth: Langston Hughes
T 11/22 Poetry Recitations; Paper #2 Due
T 11/29 Review for Exam
TH 12/1 Final Exam