Do not go gentle into that good night; write villanelles that rage, rage against the dying light. Learn about the form popularised by Dylan Thomas, in order to manipulate it in new, subversive ways.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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Pushing against the boundaries of traditional poetic form can add additional layer of meaning to your poetry and can open up new avenues in your writing. This course guides students in analysing some classic examples of the villanelle form and then explores fresh, innovative approaches of subverting the form. Students will have the opportunity to write their own villanelles and receive some feedback on their first drafts.
What will we cover?
- Origins of the villanelle form. - Language, form and structure in the villanelle. - How to subvert the traditional villanelle for effect.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand the origins of the villanelle form. - Explore approaches to language, form and structure when writing villanelles. - Explore approaches to subverting the villanelle for effect.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is most suitable for students who have taken one of our 'Ways into poetry' courses or students who have previous experience of writing poetry.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through a mix of individual, pair and group work, tutor instruction, text analysis and in-class writing activities.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a pen and paper or the digital equivalent.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a range of poetry day workshops including Poetry through the seasons, Performance poetry and Writing black out poetry. For further information, browse the writing section of our website.
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Dr. Suzannah V. Evans is a poet, researcher, and educator. Her debut full poetry collection is Under the Blue (Bloomsbury Poetry, September 2025). She is the author of Brightwork and Marine Objects / Some Language, and the editor of All Keyboards are Legitimate: Versions of Jules Laforgue (Guillemot Press). A chapter of her work appears in Carcanet’s anthology New Poetries VIII. Her poetry has been awarded the Ivan Juritz Prize for Creative Experiment and a Northern Writers’ Award, performed at international festivals, and broadcast on BBC Radio. She holds an AHRC-funded PhD in modern poetry from Durham University, and has taught literature and creative writing widely in higher and adult education. https://suzannahvevans.com/
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.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/writing-villanelles174694Writing villanelleshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_villanelles-square.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Poetry/Poetry/Courses/Short Courses/Courses/Short Courses/History, culture & writing/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Poetry228515901341113417135811360212285135811360213411Do not go gentle into that good night; write villanelles that rage, rage against the dying light. Learn about the form popularised by Dylan Thomas, in order to manipulate it in new, subversive ways. <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">Pushing against the boundaries of traditional poetic form can add additional layer of meaning to your poetry and can open up new avenues in your writing. This day workshop guides students in analyzing some classic examples of the villanelle form and then explores fresh, innovative approaches of subverting the form. Students will have the opportunity to write their own villanelles and receive some feedback on their first drafts.</div>002694042Writing villanelles7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_villanelles-square_7.jpgInStockDaytimeSunKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-06-14T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedJun 2026WritingHW1717979Writing villanelles794079Suzannah V. Evanswriting-villanelles/hw171-2526Do not go gentle into that good night; write villanelles that rage, rage against the dying light. Learn about the form popularised by Dylan Thomas, in order to manipulate it in new, subversive ways.0000-Available|2026-06-14 00:00:00Pushing against the boundaries of traditional poetic form can add additional layer of meaning to your poetry and can open up new avenues in your writing. This course guides students in analysing some classic examples of the villanelle form and then explores fresh, innovative approaches of subverting the form. Students will have the opportunity to write their own villanelles and receive some feedback on their first drafts.Do not go gentle into that good night; write villanelles that rage, rage against the dying light. Learn about the form popularised by Dylan Thomas, in order to manipulate it in new, subversive ways.- Origins of the villanelle form.<br/>- Language, form and structure in the villanelle.<br/>- How to subvert the traditional villanelle for effect.- Understand the origins of the villanelle form.<br/>- Explore approaches to language, form and structure when writing villanelles.<br/>- Explore approaches to subverting the villanelle for effect.This course is most suitable for students who have taken one of our 'Ways into poetry' courses or students who have previous experience of writing poetry.You will be taught through a mix of individual, pair and group work, tutor instruction, text analysis and in-class writing activities.<br/><br/><br/>All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit. <br/><br/>For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen and paper or the digital equivalent.City Lit offers a range of poetry day workshops including Poetry through the seasons, Performance poetry and Writing black out poetry. For further information, browse the writing section of our website.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.PoetryPoetryvirtual797940HW171NONESun14/06/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyWeekendKSKeeley StreetSuzannah V. EvansSome experience, AdvancedAvailable courses2026-06-14T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeJun 2026Writing7979Writing villanelleswriting-villanelles/hw171-2526Do not go gentle into that good night; write villanelles that rage, rage against the dying light. Learn about the form popularised by Dylan Thomas, in order to manipulate it in new, subversive ways.0000-Available|2026-06-14 00:00:00Pushing against the boundaries of traditional poetic form can add additional layer of meaning to your poetry and can open up new avenues in your writing. This course guides students in analysing some classic examples of the villanelle form and then explores fresh, innovative approaches of subverting the form. Students will have the opportunity to write their own villanelles and receive some feedback on their first drafts.Do not go gentle into that good night; write villanelles that rage, rage against the dying light. Learn about the form popularised by Dylan Thomas, in order to manipulate it in new, subversive ways.- Origins of the villanelle form.<br/>- Language, form and structure in the villanelle.<br/>- How to subvert the traditional villanelle for effect.- Understand the origins of the villanelle form.<br/>- Explore approaches to language, form and structure when writing villanelles.<br/>- Explore approaches to subverting the villanelle for effect.This course is most suitable for students who have taken one of our 'Ways into poetry' courses or students who have previous experience of writing poetry.You will be taught through a mix of individual, pair and group work, tutor instruction, text analysis and in-class writing activities.<br/><br/><br/>All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit. <br/><br/>For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen and paper or the digital equivalent.City Lit offers a range of poetry day workshops including Poetry through the seasons, Performance poetry and Writing black out poetry. For further information, browse the writing section of our website.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.PoetryPoetryconfigurable
