Bachelor
2018/2019
English literature
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'
Type:
Elective course (Philology)
Area of studies:
Philology
Delivered by:
Department of Philology
When:
3 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Instructors:
J.B. Platt
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
4
Contact hours:
48
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course begins with the major post-war American schools centered around Black Mountain College (Charles Olson’s “projective verse”) and the Beatniks in San Francisco. We will focus on the break with traditional forms, the push towards absolute sincerity of expression, and the exploration of non- heteronormative forms of sexuality. We then proceed to the major communitarian trends – Black nationalist poetry and feminism. We will also consider points of intersection between the two movements, as in the work of Audre Lorde. The next three sections of course examine working-class British poets, Irish poets that articulate a range of forms of national identity, and post- colonial poets from the Caribbean islands and the Indian subcontinent. The course closes with a discussion of political verse being written now.
Learning Objectives
- In this course, we will read closely and discuss poems from a range of genres and styles, presenting a survey of contemporary Anglophone poetry with a special focus on politically engaged verse. Among our central themes will be political violence, poverty and oppression, marginalized voices and identities, and the reified forms of language itself.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Students will become acquainted with the major trends of Anglophone poetry after 1945 and many of the most significant poets writing in America, Britain and Ireland. Tracing the different forms of poems under discussion, students will develop a fine-tuned understanding of political engagement found in the how art can contribute to political struggle.
Course Contents
- IntroductionPoetry and Politics. General overview.
- Black Mountain SchoolPostmodernism. Larry Eigner, Robert Duncan, Ed Dorn, Paul Blackburn.
- Beatniks and QueerSubcultures. Beat Generation. Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti
- Black NationalismPoetry and revolution. Amiri Baraka
- After Black NationalismAmiri Baraka’s disciples. Haki R. Madhubuti (Don Luther Lee)
- From Feminine to FeminismFeminist poetry movement. Denise Levertov, Maxine Kumin, Maya Angelou
- From Feminism to Women of ColorBlack feminism and poetry. Audre Lorde
- British Working ClassWorking class poetry in Britain. Ted Hughes.
- IrishSeamus Heaney, Eavan Boland, John Montague
- Post-ColonialPost-colonialism in literature. Mabel Sigun. Chinua Achebe.
- Eco-PoetryForrest Gander. Alice Oswald. Jay Ramsay & Carole Bruce .
- CurrentPatience Agbabi. Sean Bonney . Paul Conneally . Tony Curtis
Assessment Elements
- ParticipationStudents will be expected to read 15-25 pages of poetry in the original per week. During the seminars, students will read the poems (or selections) aloud and construct close analytical arguments in small groups construct close analytical arguments in small groups.
- PresentationEach student will make one 10-minute presentation. Students will sign up for a presentation slot during the second class. The presentation should make a concrete argument based entirely on the text of the chosen poem and should not include any “background” information or context.
- Midterm paper3-4 pg. (Times New Roman, 12 pt., double-spaced) close analysis of one poem from the syllabus. You may build off class discussions, but you must go further in your argument.
- Final paper (essay)(7-8 pg. (Times New Roman, 12 pt., double-spaced), comparing poems by at least three different authors to make a concrete argument about poetry and politics. Some reference to recommended readings is required. You are urged to build off your presentation and midterm paper)
Interim Assessment
- Interim assessment (2 module)0.4 * Final paper (essay) + 0.2 * Midterm paper + 0.2 * Participation + 0.2 * Presentation
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Axelrod, S. G., Roman, C., & Travisano, T. J. (2012). The New Anthology of American Poetry : Postmodernisms 1950-Present. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=549303
- Matek, L., & Rehlicki, J. P. (2014). Facing the Crises : Anglophone Literature in the Postmodern World. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=805810
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- MacGowan, C. J. (2004). Twentieth-Century American Poetry. Maldon, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=231524
- Young, R. (2016). Postcolonialism : An Historical Introduction. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1380042