The Best of Contemporary Poetry
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- Start Date: 04 Jul 2025End Date: 25 Jul 2025Fri (Daytime): 12:45 - 14:45In PersonFull fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
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What is the course about?
If you’re interested in finding out more about contemporary poets and poetry but not sure where to start, this course will introduce you to some of the most interesting work being produced today and give you some tools to start analysing, enjoying and evaluating the range of poetry currently on offer.
The Forward Prizes for Poetry were launched in 1992 and have become highly respected and influential. Each year an accompanying book is published featuring selections from all the poets shortlisted for the four prizes (Best Collection, Best First Collection, Best Single Poem – Performed and Best Single Poem – Written) plus many more ‘highly commended’ examples from the wide range of submissions. We will use the latest edition of this book as a guide and introduction to the scene, with the intention of inspiring wider reading (and in the case of performance poetry, listening and viewing).
What will we cover?
• The history and significance of the Forward Prizes for Poetry (and other prizes)
• Trends in contemporary poetry, including formal innovations, performance, poetry as ‘self-help’
• What inspires contemporary poets: interplays of personal and political, society and identity
• Tools for analysis: influence, allusion, wordplay, biography.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Conduct close readings of poems in small groups
• Appreciate and analyse a range of poets and styles
• Recognise some trends in contemporary poetry.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
All you need is enthusiasm for reading, hearing and discussing poetry.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The classes will be highly participatory and interactive, with a combination of group work, close reading exercises and class discussion. Your own responses and ideas will be to the fore, but with expert guidance on hand from the tutor. Each week you will be given some reading along with topics/questions to think about before the next class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please buy or borrow the Faber Book of Poetry 2025 (Faber, 2024).
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other poetry courses under History, Culture and Writing/Literature/Poetry at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Lewis Ward is a London-based teacher and editor. His PhD (University of Exeter) focused on history, memory and trauma in contemporary narratives. He has taught at four UK universities, covering most literary periods and genres along the way.
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.