The Authority of the Poet: 1945-the present
This two-semester option focuses upon the changing role and place of the poet in modern Anglophone society. The course concentrates primarily on the work of six poets: Patrick Kavanagh, Robert Lowell,
Philip Larkin, Elizabeth Bishop, Tony Harrison and Derek Mahon. Cultural and political contexts will be established within which the individual poet's work will be analysed along with various critical relationships both within national literary traditions (Irish, British and North American) and across wider international perspectives of poetry in English including the role of translation, audience and the impact of the digital world. Archive audio-visual material will be used throughout the course.
Michaelmas Term
I Introduction: Historical Contexts I 945-1985
2- 4 Patrick Kavanagh
5-8 Robert Lowell (7 Study week)
9-11 Philip Larkin
12 Class Review (Essays)
Hilary Term
I. Introduction: Historical contexts 1985-present
2-4 Elizabeth Bishop
5-8 Tony Harrison (7 Study week)
9-11 Derek Mahon
12 Class Review (Essays/Exams)
Readings will be selected from the following texts:
Patrick Kavanagh Collected Poems: Penguin Modern Classics Poeoy (Penguin 2005)
Patrick Kavanagh A Poet's Count!)>: Selected Prose (Lilliput 2002)
Robe1t Lowell Selected Poems: Expanded edition (Fmmr, Strauss and Giroux 2006)
Robert Lowell Collected Prose (FSG 1990 pb edition)
Philip Larkin Collected Poems (Faber and Faber 2003 edition)
Philip Larkin Required Reading: Miscellaneous Pieces 1955-1982 (Faber and Faber 2002)
Philip Larkin Further Requirements: Interviews, Broadcasts, Statements and Reviews 1952-1985
(Faber and Faber 2002)
Elizabeth Bishop Poems: The Centenmy Edition (Chatto and Windus 2011)
Elizabeth Bishop Prose: The Centenmy Edition (Chatto and Windus 2011)
Tony Harrison Selected Poems: New Edition (Penguin 2013)
Derek Mahon New Collected Poems (Gallery 2011)
Derek Mahon Selected Prose (Gallery 2012)
A comprehensive bibliography will be distributed in class.
On successfid completion of this module a student should be able to
1. Display an informed historical understanding of the development of poetry in English in the post
WW2period
2. Recognise the distinct social and cultural aspects of national literary traditions in poetry
3. Examine the rise of'international' poetics in the English language
4. Identify the role of translation, comparative literature, cross cultural and political influences and e­ technological change in contemporary poetry
gdawe@tcd. ie