English 45 - Winter, 2011

Introductory Topics in Poetry

Topic: Walt Whitman's Song of Myself

Class Information

Instructor: Wenderoth, Joe
CRN: 43862
Time: MWF 11:00-11:50
Location: 6 Olson

Description

We will attempt, in this course, to learn about poetry by looking at the first edition (1855) of one of America’s most important books: Walt Whitman’s Leaves Of Grass. While we will preface our study of the book with a bit of historical context, especially regarding American minstrel shows, it is not our primary intention to consider the book in terms of its historical context; instead, we will use the book as a springboard for discussion of issues of poetics, which is to say, poetry itself. I should qualify that and say that our discussion will concern lyric poetry, which, while it has continually transformed itself over the last few thousand years and across more cultures than we can now list, remains recognizable as lyric poetry. I am happy to contend, that is, that lyric poetry, despite the ways in which it has changed, has conserved, and continues to conserve, some essence of itself, and that conservative phenomenon will be discussed in depth.

Grading

25%: participation grade
20%: first essay
25%: second essay
30%: Final Exam

Texts

Whitman: Poetry and Prose (Library of America College Editions) (Paperback; ISBN-10: 1883011353; ISBN-13: 978-1883011352), Walt Whitman