Poetry is in many ways more present in our lives than ever – available in cheap paperback editions, anthologies, on the internet, printed alongside ads in buses and subways, heard at “poetry slams,” presidential inaugurations, and in the songs we hear as we move through our daily lives. In this class we explore various uses to which poems are and can be put, in both private and public contexts. We consider how poems may work as acts of confession, political commentary, religious speculation, and more. As we discuss some of the greatest poems written in English, students gain tools for understanding, discussing, and analyzing poetry in general.

Course Requirements:

Requirements include three short response papers, an in-class presentation, and a final