Lists are everywhere. Grocery lists, bucket lists, hit lists, “10 Things I Hate About You”—the list, as it were, goes on! But while the OED describes the “listicle” as a combination of “list + article” invented in 2007, lists are one of the oldest and most enduring literary forms. From early medieval catalog poems like Widsith and Deor to Biblical enumeration to Solmaz Sharif’s “Look,” this class will consider the history of the list as a literary genre. Lists have been used to make political statements, tell stories, craft arguments, reveal injustices, even imagine heaven and hell! By comparing some of the oldest examples with current, contemporary poetry, we will consider the roots of a form we still use every day.

Course Requirements:

Assignments will include weekly journal pages, a close-reading essay, and a final project (with creative and analytical options). Required texts: A course reader will be provided