Six poets: the 20th century female experience

What is the course about?

This online literature course celebrates the poetry of six women, beginning with a selection of work by Charlotte Mew (English) in Week One, followed in Week Two by an exploration into the tragic life and poetry of arguably Russia’s most famous female poet, Anna Akhmatova. In Week Three we will delve into the work of one of Poland’s finest and most prolific poets, Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska. The controversial poetry of the revered Iranian poet, Forugh Farrokhzad will be the subject of Week Four, followed by an examination of the poems of Gwendolyn Brooks in Week Five, who was the first Black poetry recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. The course will end in Week Six with the poetry of the Scottish writer and former Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

We will read a selection of poems and extracts from letters and essays. The texts will be read and discussed in terms of form, structure, theme, technique, style and their appeal or success as literary texts. In our analysis of the texts, we will consider the contexts in which they were created, such as the biographical, geographical, historical, psychological and literary contexts.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• analyse poetry and prose to better understand a writer’s language choices
• discuss a text with reference to a variety of different contexts: historical, literary, biographical and psychological
• explain important elements of plot and characterisation within novel extracts
• evaluate the significance of form and style
• use key terminology within your discussions of literary texts.

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

No previous knowledge of literature is necessary. However, learners will ideally need the following skills and attributes:
• an enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts within large and small groups
• a willingness and ability to read the poems and extracts outside the class
• an interest in, and ability to listen to, the responses of other students about the work discussed.

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

A variety of teaching methods will be used, including short lecture with PowerPoint presentation, small group work using secondary text extracts, whole class discussion.

Work outside class is to read the relevant poems in preparation for the upcoming week.

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

A course booklet will be provided which will contain all the poems and prose extracts as well as the secondary text extracts which will be used for small-group discussions.

Any other materials will be supplied by the tutor.

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

Look for other poetry courses at www.citylit.ac.uk under History, Culture & Writing/Literature/Poetry.