Poetry Cooked and Raw: Emily Dickinson to the Beat Poets
We will explore how poets changedduring the 20th century from writing in formal ‘poetic’ language and regular forms towards writing in morenatural language, freer forms and with more direct expression of feelings. We will look at free verse, political poetry, the Beat Poets, confessional poetry and prose poetry.
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This in-college literature course will explore the remarkable fact that, after over a thousand years of writing poetry in regular forms, usually with regular rhythm and special ‘poetic’ language, poets in the 20th century aimed increasingly to write in simpler, more natural language, often in free verse. We will investigate what brought about this huge change and read poems by many of the poets who led it:
What will we cover?
We will look at Emily Dickinson writing for herself; Eliot’s and Pound’s early experiments, especially Pound stripping language back to the image; Robert Frost's and Edward Thomas's pursuit of the speaking voice; and the various experiments with simple direct language in the 1920s and 30s often associated with socialism, and how Auden and others reacted against this.
In the 1950s/60s we will look at Frank O'Hara’s apparently completely simple style and trace the changes in Robert Lowell’s style from his early formalism to the freedom of his poems from Life Studies onwards, relating this (as Lowell admitted when talking of “poetry cooked and raw”) to the influence of the Beat Poets, especially Allen Ginsberg and his love of William Blake. We will look at the rise of confessional verse with Lowell’s influence on two of his students at Boston University - Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath - and the work of others such as John Berryman.
Finally, we will trace how prose poetry has developed since its adoption by Baudelaire with its special attraction for some poets and their usual abandonment of it after a time. We will consider whether prose poetry has become so similar to flash fiction that it may be indistinguishable.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Understand why many poets moved in the 20th century towards more natural language, freer forms and more direct expression of feelings
Appreciate these poets’ originality
Enjoy reading and discussing many fine poems.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You should be interested in modern poetry. No particular knowledge or skills are needed.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The sessions are run in a seminar style with all students invited to read poems if they wish and take part in discussions led by the tutor. You will receive the materials beforehand so you can read them and be ready to discuss them.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No. Copies of the poems and other materials will be provided electronically beforehand and on paper for each session. It is helpful to bring a pen.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please see our range of poetry and other literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Laurie Smith has taught poetry writing and literature courses at the City Lit for some years, focussing on modernism and writers' radicalism. He researches and lectures at King's College London, helped to found Magma poetry magazine which he sometimes edits and has been a Trustee of the Poetry Society.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/poetry-cooked-and-raw-emily-dickinson-to-the-beat-poets3047239Poetry Cooked and Raw: Emily Dickinson to the Beat Poetshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/demystifying-poetry-hlt354-1080.jpg279279GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Poetry22851177118711901228511771187<p>We will explore how poets changedduring the 20th century from writing in formal ‘poetic’ language and regular forms towards writing in morenatural language, freer forms and with more direct expression of feelings. We will look at free verse, political poetry, the Beat Poets, confessional poetry and prose poetry.</p><p></p>003047212Poetry Cooked and Raw: Emily Dickinson to the Beat Poets279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/demystifying-poetry-hlt354-1080.jpgInStockDaytimeWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-23T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT125279279Poetry Cooked and Raw: Emily Dickinson to the Beat Poets223181279Laurie Smithpoetry-cooked-and-raw-emily-dickinson-to-the-beat-poets/hlt125-2627<p>We will explore how poets changedduring the 20th century from writing in formal ‘poetic’ language and regular forms towards writing in morenatural language, freer forms and with more direct expression of feelings. We will look at free verse, political poetry, the Beat Poets, confessional poetry and prose poetry.</p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-23 00:00:00<p>This in-college literature course will explore the remarkable fact that, after over a thousand years of writing poetry in regular forms, usually with regular rhythm and special ‘poetic’ language, poets in the 20th century aimed increasingly to write in simpler, more natural language, often in free verse. We will investigate what brought about this huge change and read poems by many of the poets who led it:<br></p><p></p><p>We will explore how poets changedduring the 20th century from writing in formal ‘poetic’ language and regular forms towards writing in morenatural language, freer forms and with more direct expression of feelings. We will look at free verse, political poetry, the Beat Poets, confessional poetry and prose poetry.</p><p></p><p>We will look at Emily Dickinson writing for herself; Eliot’s and Pound’s early experiments, especially Pound stripping language back to the image; Robert Frost's and Edward Thomas's pursuit of the speaking voice; and the various experiments with simple direct language in the 1920s and 30s often associated with socialism, and how Auden and others reacted against this. </p><p>In the 1950s/60s we will look at Frank O'Hara’s apparently completely simple style and trace the changes in Robert Lowell’s style from his early formalism to the freedom of his poems from <em>Life Studies</em> onwards, relating this (as Lowell admitted when talking of “poetry cooked and raw”) to the influence of the Beat Poets, especially Allen Ginsberg and his love of William Blake. We will look at the rise of confessional verse with Lowell’s influence on two of his students at Boston University - Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath - and the work of others such as John Berryman.</p><p>Finally, we will trace how prose poetry has developed since its adoption by Baudelaire with its special attraction for some poets and their usual abandonment of it after a time. We will consider whether prose poetry has become so similar to flash fiction that it may be indistinguishable. </p><p></p><ul><li>Understand why many poets moved in the 20th century towards more natural language, freer forms and more direct expression of feelings</li><li>Appreciate these poets’ originality </li><li>Enjoy reading and discussing many fine poems.</li></ul><p>You should be interested in modern poetry. No particular knowledge or skills are needed.</p>The sessions are run in a seminar style with all students invited to read poems if they wish and take part in discussions led by the tutor. You will receive the materials beforehand so you can read them and be ready to discuss them.<p>No. Copies of the poems and other materials will be provided electronically beforehand and on paper for each session. It is helpful to bring a pen.</p><p>Please see our range of poetry and other literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteraturePoetryvirtual223279181HLT125NONEWed23/09/26 - 25/11/2612:30 - 14:3012:3014:3010 sessions (over 10 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetLaurie SmithBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-23T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities279279Poetry Cooked and Raw: Emily Dickinson to the Beat Poetspoetry-cooked-and-raw-emily-dickinson-to-the-beat-poets/hlt125-2627<p>We will explore how poets changedduring the 20th century from writing in formal ‘poetic’ language and regular forms towards writing in morenatural language, freer forms and with more direct expression of feelings. We will look at free verse, political poetry, the Beat Poets, confessional poetry and prose poetry.</p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-23 00:00:00<p>This in-college literature course will explore the remarkable fact that, after over a thousand years of writing poetry in regular forms, usually with regular rhythm and special ‘poetic’ language, poets in the 20th century aimed increasingly to write in simpler, more natural language, often in free verse. We will investigate what brought about this huge change and read poems by many of the poets who led it:<br></p><p></p><p>We will explore how poets changedduring the 20th century from writing in formal ‘poetic’ language and regular forms towards writing in morenatural language, freer forms and with more direct expression of feelings. We will look at free verse, political poetry, the Beat Poets, confessional poetry and prose poetry.</p><p></p><p>We will look at Emily Dickinson writing for herself; Eliot’s and Pound’s early experiments, especially Pound stripping language back to the image; Robert Frost's and Edward Thomas's pursuit of the speaking voice; and the various experiments with simple direct language in the 1920s and 30s often associated with socialism, and how Auden and others reacted against this. </p><p>In the 1950s/60s we will look at Frank O'Hara’s apparently completely simple style and trace the changes in Robert Lowell’s style from his early formalism to the freedom of his poems from <em>Life Studies</em> onwards, relating this (as Lowell admitted when talking of “poetry cooked and raw”) to the influence of the Beat Poets, especially Allen Ginsberg and his love of William Blake. We will look at the rise of confessional verse with Lowell’s influence on two of his students at Boston University - Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath - and the work of others such as John Berryman.</p><p>Finally, we will trace how prose poetry has developed since its adoption by Baudelaire with its special attraction for some poets and their usual abandonment of it after a time. We will consider whether prose poetry has become so similar to flash fiction that it may be indistinguishable. </p><p></p><ul><li>Understand why many poets moved in the 20th century towards more natural language, freer forms and more direct expression of feelings</li><li>Appreciate these poets’ originality </li><li>Enjoy reading and discussing many fine poems.</li></ul><p>You should be interested in modern poetry. No particular knowledge or skills are needed.</p>The sessions are run in a seminar style with all students invited to read poems if they wish and take part in discussions led by the tutor. You will receive the materials beforehand so you can read them and be ready to discuss them.<p>No. Copies of the poems and other materials will be provided electronically beforehand and on paper for each session. It is helpful to bring a pen.</p><p>Please see our range of poetry and other literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteraturePoetryconfigurable
11901187Poetryhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/literature/poetry1/2/285/1177/1187/11901/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Poetry
