English 2380-23553: Introduction to Poetry
Spring 2012
MW 2-3.15
Irby 313
Dr. R.-J. Frontain
Office: Irby 317
Office Hours: MW 12-2
T 1.30-2, 4-6
Th 1.30-2.30
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In pre-modern cultures, poetry is universally associated with the sacred: language (whether
spoken or written) is understood to be divinely inspired, and poetry is the only way that humans
have of accessing the divine. Following the invention of print, however, poetry has gradually lost
its significance, much as consciousness of the sacred has gradually disappeared from industrialized
societies. This course will consider the nature of poetic language, its lingering presence in the
contemporary world, and the remaining linguistic means that individuals have of accessing the
divine. More generally, we will focus on those three realms of human experience that cannot be
adequately expressed through non-poetic means- -God, love, and death- -and debate the nature of
the poet’s relationship with his/her audience in each regard.
TEXTBOOKS
The Poems of Emily Dickinson: Reading Edition, ed. R. W. Franklin (Harvard UP, 1999)
The English Poems of George Herbert, ed. Helen Wilcox (Cambridge UP, 2011)
Allen Ginsberg, Collected Poems 1947-1997 (HarperCollins, 2006)
The Poems of Marianne Moore, ed. Grace Schulman (Penguin, 2005)
NOTE: These are the most reliable editions of these poets currently available and the editions
which must be used in class. Bring the appropriate book to each class meeting for that unit, and
be prepared to read aloud if called upon. All four books will be needed for Examination #4, and
no substitute editions will be permitted at exam time.
SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS
W 18 Jan. Introduction: Poetry and the Language of God, Love, and Death
Unit I:
Emily Dickinson and the Act of Perception
M 23 Jan. Language and Perception: Poems 1489, 383, 930, 1263
W 25 Jan.
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M 30 Jan. Dickinson and the Self: Poems 260, 620, 519, 409
W 1 Feb.
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PARAPHRASE OF EITHER 310, 320, or 935 DUE AT START OF CLASS
M
W
6 Feb. Love and Passion: Poems 205, 269, 706
8 Feb.
“
M 13 Feb. EXAMINATION #1: in advance of exam prepare poems 1577 and 236
Unit II:
George Herbert: Poetry as Prayer
W 15 Feb. “Prayer” (178), “Jordan” (200)
M 20 Feb. “The Altar” (92), “Easter Wings” (147)
W 22 Feb. “Redemption” (25), “Vertue” (147)
M 27 Feb. “Artillerie” (485)
W 29 Feb. “The Collar” (526)
M
W
5 Mar. “The Flower” (567-69)
7 Mar. EXAMINATION #2: in advance of exam, prepare “The Pulley” (548-49)
Unit III:
Allen Ginsberg and Poetry as Consciousness
M 12 Mar. “Sunflower Sutra” (146-47), “Describe: The Rain on Dasaswamedh Ghat” (303-4)
W 14 Mar. “Kral Majales” (361-63)
SPRING RECESS
M 26 Mar. Howl (134-41)
W 28 Mar.
“
M
W
2 Apr. “Footnote to Howl” (142-43)
4 Apr. EXAMINATION #3
Unit IV:
Marianne Moore and the Future of the Poem
M 9 Apr. “That Harp You Play So Well” (82), “Poetry” (135)
W 11 Apr. “The Mind Is an Enchanting Thing” (260-61)
M 16 Apr. “O to Be a Dragon” (303), “Holes Bored in a Workbag by Scissors” (114)
W 18 Apr. “Critics and Connoisseurs” (106-7)
M 23 Apr. “Baseball and Writing” (333)
Discussion of oral interpretation strategies
W 25 Apr. EXAMINATION #4
F 4 May (10-12): FINAL EXAMINATION MEETING
OBSERVATIONS
1. No one can earn an A simply be attending every class, arriving on time, being well prepared,
and writing well. But no student earns an A without being deeply engaged and well-disciplined,
and these qualities are exemplified by the preceding behaviors. In recent semesters, students
who have fared poorly have missed or been late for multiple classes; have lost their syllabus early
in the semester and not secured a replacement; have failed to bring their book with them and
taken reliable notes; have allowed themselves to be distracted by text messages and distracted
others by not turning off their cell phones in class; and have ignored the need to improve their
writing skills. An A is every student’s to earn or lose. Do not be fooled by the limited amount
of reading for each class meeting: because poetry packs the maximum amount of meaning in the
minimum amount of space, it requires a great deal more preparation than prose.
2. The final examination meeting will be used for student recitations, to return and review
Examination #4, and to compute final grades minus the 10% for recitation.
3.. The final grade for this course will be computed as follows: Exams (20% each), Paraphrase
(10%), and Recitation (10%). Any penalty for excessive absence/tardiness will then be deducted
from the final average.