First episode of Poetry: A Basic Course:James Merrill’s

amimetobios

This is actually the second class, since we had an introductory class last week. This is a course in the close reading of poetry. Today's class largely on James Merrill's poem b o d y, on the limits of close reading (if any), and on "Roses are red..."

Syllabus outline, to be updated periodically:

Topics

This syllabus is done by topics. In order to remain flexible I will update weekly with specific readings. Right now the syllabus is aspirational, and will give you a general sense of the order of topics and the issues we’ll discuss. But if, as is likely, we don’t get to everything, we’ll have to decide what to spend less time on.

Th Aug 25 Introduction, etc.

Handout, including:

“b o d y” (James Merrill)

“Easter Wings” (George Herbert)

“The Comfort” (Alice Notely)

Excerpt from Don Juan (Lord Byron)

“My sweet old Etcetera” (Cummings)

T Aug 30 Rhyme

Cole Porter: “You’re the top”

Skelton: “Tunning of Eleanor Rumming” (excerpts)

“Lullay lullay like a child”

Auden: “Lullaby”

Th Sept 1

T Sept 6

Th Sept 8

T Sept 13

Th Sept 15

T Sept 20 Meter

Th Sept 22

T Sept 27 NO CLASS

Th Sept 29 First Paper Due

T Oct 4

Th Oct 6

T Oct 11 Interplay between rhyme and meter

Th Oct 13 NO CLASS (“Brandeis Monday”)

T Oct 18 NO CLASS (“Brandeis Monday”)

Th Oct 20

T Oct 25

Th Oct 27 Metaphor

T Nov 1 Second Paper Due

Th Nov 3 More forms

T Nov 8

Th Nov 9

T Nov 15 Revisions

Th Nov 16

T Nov 22

Th Nov 24 NO CLASS

T Nov 29

Th Dec 1 Two extremes: free verse and hip hop

T Dec 6 Third Paper Due