Romanticism begins as a revolt against modern society—against its debased forms of pleasure, its mindless destruction of the environment, and its surrender to the more dogmatic aspects of scientific thought. Compounded of both nostalgia and utopianism, it turns to the past and the future to critique the present. In this class we shall read the major works of three great Romantic poets, Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats. Though some historical and biographical background will be provided, our focus will primarily be on the poetry itself and those qualities that continue make it relevant today. Time will also be reserved to familiarize ourselves with the various formal features (i.e., versification, rhyme, figures of speech, verse genres) that any student of poetry should know.

Course Requirements:

Written assignments consist of several short response papers, two longer essays of 5 to 7 pages, and a midterm.

Class Format:

Online.