English 260

Introduction to Poetry

Comet

Credit hours: 5
GEC categories: Category 5
Prerequisites: English 110

Text Books:

Example Syllabus:
Website: http://english.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/ncomet/courses.htm

Course Objectives: As its title suggests, this course is an introduction to (reading and understanding) poetry. I assume no prior experience with or expertise in the history or mechanics of poetry, nor will I require you to do any creative writing (though I will reward you for doing so, if you choose). While we will savor a beautiful expression or sentiment when we find one, this course will focus on more than poetic appreciation; it will orient you to the forms and traditions of poetry (such as the sonnet and the ode), its fundamental structures (such as meter and rhyme), and its most common modes of expression (such as metaphor and personification). Note that I have not designed this course as a history of poetry with a chronological scheme. Although we will discuss the historical developments of certain traditions and comment on the relevance of historical events to specific poets, our main objective is to become better, more informed close readers.

Course Content:

Method of Presentation:

Method of Evaluation: Midterm and Final; Compare/Contrast Paper; Various in-class exercises and presentations.

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