106-077 Poetry in the Making

Usually 25 points of first-year English, see Prerequisites.

This subject starts with the consideration that while, for centuries, literary value was defined by poetic works such as Hamlet, Paradise Lost, Keats's Odes and so on, the concept of literature has changed, as has the status of poetry. The subject asks students to practise reading and thinking about poems of many different styles and periods, in the process encountering a wide range of ideas about literature - particularly the ideas of writers themselves. The readings include examples of medieval drama, love-lyrics, narrative verse, Shakespeare, 'religious' English, performance-poetry, limericks, satire, erotica, riddles, popular songs, as well as writing by women, folk-poetry, and writings from outside the English tradition. On completion of the subject students should have a significant historical, practical and conceptual knowledge of major periods of English literature post-1400, and will have had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the potentiality of particular modes and genres by practising them first hand.

Class participation, and written work totalling 4000 words. Some creative writing is an option with the permission of the subject coordinator.

A subject reader will be available.

• S Heaney & T Hughes (ed), The Rattle Bag. Faber.