Special Topics in Creative Writing: Poetry

Course Details

Course Number: 3103  Section Number: 101

Fall 2010

Location: Bea Wood Hall

Classroom Number: 210

Days & Times:

TR 9:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Course Attachments

Textbooks

Poetry: A Pocket Anthology. Ed. R.S. Gwynn, 6th   ISBN: 13: 978-0-205-65515-1
MSU Faculty Member
James M. Hoggard   
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Course Objectives

Throughout the semester our major tasks will be to read selected poems carefully to see the connections between manners of presentation and effects created by the techniques used; to write poems; to discuss selected poems written by members of the class; to comprehend the relationship between understanding a poem and appreciating its comparative level of success. In doing the above, we shall explore representative examples of poetry in terms of levels of language used and possibilities of form, both fixed and open.

                There will be numerous discussions having to do with rhythmic and sonic effects, the major forms for poetry, different attitudes toward poetic art and composition. In short, the students will be dealing with and becoming more knowledgeable about poetic history. The students will be developing throughout the semester a fairly sophisticated understanding of poetic technique, and with that points of advantage and disadvantage regarding particular concerns of style.

                Each member of the class will be expected to turn in a new (or revised) poem approximately every week. Because these will be looked at as exercises, as efforts at exploration of voice and technique, they will not be graded, though I shall comment on them. Near the end of the semester each student is expected to turn in a sheaf of five poems written and polished during the semester. Success in the class will be determined by quality of improvement, attentiveness to and participation in class discussion, and faithfulness in regard to class attendance. Students may very well be dropped from class for what I consider excessive absences. I reserved the right to determine was “excessive” means. At the end of the semester, the students in the class will introduce a short selection of  (about four)  poems, written by the student during the semester, and read them to the class. In order to pass the course, the student will have to participate in the readings, and that includes being present while the other class members read. Failure to do either one of those will mean that the student has not satisfactorily completed the course. Students should also be aware that class attendance and studious participation are expected. Failure to be consistent on this can cause one’s grade to be affected negatively. If you need to be absent, please let me know beforehand. 


Course Expectations

 

Text: Poetry: A Pocket Anthology. Ed. R.S. Gwynn, 6th ed.

 


 

Aug.       24 Introduction: speaker, persona, line

26 The Red Wheel 210; The Last Words 209;This is 339,  Digging 345, The soul 670

 

31 Image & metaphor; sonic devices, To The Virgins 279; Our Bog 244

Sept.         2  Dream Boogie 240; The Weary Blues 242;   Punishment 346

 

                  7 Rhythm & Meter; Western Wind 59, Dover Beach  164; Siren Song 343

                  9 The Road 200; In A Station 212

 

                12 Poems from the class

                14 Forms: Ballad, sonnet, terza rima, villanelle, ghazal, pantoum, haiku

 

                21 Acquainted 130; Design 195; Stopping 201

                23 That time 68, Sonnet 130 (p.270)

 

                28 Poems from the class

                30 We real cool 268, The Emperor of Ice Cream 203

 

Oct.          5 Holy sonnet 74; A Valediction 75

                  7 Writing assignment

 

                12 Ode 121; My Last Duchess 149; Porphyria’s 151

14 Dulce Et 232, Because I Could not 162 (ext. metaphor), A  Narrow Fellow 169, There’s A 171

 

                19When I Heard 164, Sailing To Byzantium 185,

                                Leda 184

                21 Writing Assignment

 

                26 A Narrow Fellow 169; My Papa’s 252

28 What Lips 232; If I Should Learn 231; The River- Merchant’s Wife 213

               

Nov.         2 Do Not Go 261, Traveling Through 260

                  4 Some Keep169; Wild Nights 171

 

                  9 Adelaide Crapsey  201-202; Anecdote 202; The Emperor 203

                 11 Writing assignment

 

                 16 The Fish 219

                 18 Captivity 66; GMH 117-178

 

                 23 GMH cont.; Sunday 205

                 25 THANKSGIVING / no class

 

                 30 1 SHEAF OF POEMS DUE; wrap-up

Dec.           2 Readingsbegin

 

FINAL EXAM (conclusion of readings):  Tuesday,  Dec. 7,  8 a.m.

 

POEMS FOR FURTHER READING & STUDY

 

The Love Song 223

The Heaven of Animals 283

Love Song: I & Thou 284

After The Storm 348

The Traveling Onion 405

Body & Soul 361


Final Exam12/7/2010  8 - 10 a.m.

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