Make it new! How poetry became modern

We look at how poetry changed in the early 20th century-becoming visual, musical, imagistic, symbolic and discontinuous with Blake rediscovered, Hopkins published, Yeats, Pound, Eliot, Wallace Stevens and others.

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Key course information

Dates
12/01/12 - 22/03/12

Day(s)
Thu

Duration
11 weeks

Time
18:00 - 19:30

Fees
Full fee: £86
Senior fee: £86
Concession: £25

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
HLT37

Availability
This course has finished

This course has finished

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Still got questions?
humanities@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 7492 2652

Course outline

What is the course about?

We look at how poetry became modern in the early 20th century – how it changed from the traditional style of previous centuries (regular, rhyming, formal, explicit) to develop features which make modern poetry different (freer forms, role-play, focus on image and symbol, allusion, playing with language and tone, etc).

What topics will we cover?

We will look at the 19th century forerunners of modernism (the rediscovery of Blake, Baudelaire, Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Jules Laforgue), then track how Yeats, Pound, Eliot and others remade poetry in English between 1910 and 1925, finishing with some poems by Wallace Stevens, Marianne Moore and Hart Crane. We will read Baudelaire and Laforgue in translation.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

Show you understand how and why poetry changed from traditional to modernist
Show you understand the principles of modernist poetry.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

You will need an enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts in large and small groups. You will be willing and able to do some reading and preparation outside the class. You will be interested in listening to, and learning from, the responses of other students to the work discussed. You will have a commitment to developing your analytical skills.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The class is run in a seminar style in which all students are included in discussions led by the tutor. You will need to read some poems and short texts outside the class to participate in discussion of them.

The tutor
Laurie Smith works part-time at King's College London and taught poetry writing at the City Lit for many years. He is chair of Magma poetry magazine and occasionally edits an issue. Magma was founded in 1994 by members of Laurie's Poetry in the Making class at the City Lit and some of them still help to run it, although it now receives contributions from all over the world.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

All materials will be provided. Please bring pen and paper.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses. Laurie Smith works part-time at King's College London and has taught poetry writing at the City Lit for many years. He is reviews editor of Magma poetry magazine and occasionally edits a complete issue. Magma was founded in 1994 by members of Laurie's Poetry in the Making class at the City Lit and is still run by them, although it now receives contributions from all over the world.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2652

humanities@citylit.ac.uk

Advice times:

During term-time Monday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30

Non term-time Monday 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.