106-077 Poetry in the Making

Usually 25 points of first year English, including completion of the first year creative writing prerequisites of 106-186 Creative Writing: Autofictions (or its equivalent) and/or 760-101 Creative Writing: Ideas and Practice. This subject is available at second year level to Bachelor of Creative Arts students who have completed all first year BCA Creative Writing requirements.

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.

• be able to apply new research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry;

• develop critical self-awareness and shape and strengthen persuasive arguments;

• communicate arguments and ideas effectively and articulately, both in writing and to others.

A written assignment of 750 words 20% (due early in semester), a written assignment of 1250 words 30% (due mid-semester) and an assignment of 2000 words 50% (due at the end of semester). Students are required to keep a log-book which is to be submitted at the end of the semester in order to qualify to have their written work assessed.

A subject reader will be available from the University Bookshop.