English 203 Professor Ostrom

Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry

Office: Wyatt Hall 336. Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00-10:15, and by appointment. Telephone: x3235 (main English office); 3434 (my office; voice mail).

The course aims to introduce--or reintroduce--you to the art, craft, discipline, and satisfaction of writing and reading poetry. Connected to ancient impulses in all cultures to make songs and tell tales, poetry is an old art form but one that is constantly being reinvented. Indirectly, then, English 203 will allow you to explore the history of lyric poetry. Writing and reading poetry are demanding but help us learn more about writing and reading in general—another aim of the course. To provide a structure in which to use your intelligence, reflect, and imagine: this, too, is a goal. One reason to take a course such as this is to write and read what you might not otherwise write and read—to experiment and explore, to stretch a bit, to give and receive constructive criticism.

Probably you will need to let go of , or at least alter, some of your notions about poetry. You will need to work well with other students as you all read one another’s work.

Attendance and participation are crucial. Come to class on time. Resist assuming that work submitted late will be accepted. Keep up with the reading and writing.

Do not eat in class (all professors have their pet peeves).

To every class session bring pens, pencils, and a loose-leaf notebook. And of course bring the appropriate books to each session.

Wendy Bishop, 13 Ways of Looking for a Poem.

e.e. cummings, 100 Selected Poems.

Langston Hughes, Selected Poems.

Mary Oliver, American Primitive.

Attendance; productive participation in discussions and group work; in-class writing: 25 per cent.

Two examinations: 25 per cent, total

Portfolio: 50 per cent

You will write at least ten poems during the term. That number is a bit deceptive, however, because you will be "writing toward" poems, drafting, and revising seemingly all the time. The portfolio you submit at the end of the term will consist of 5-7 poems selected from your work during the term.

Monday, August 28. Aims and expectations. A careful look at the syllabus. Mary Oliver, "August." For Friday, read carefully the Introduction to (xxix-xli) and first chapter of (1-34) 13 Ways of Looking for a Poem.

Wednesday, August 30. Ideas and definitions from Bishop’s book. Much discussion and writing.

Friday, September 1. Poem due. Also read for today Chapter Two of 13 Ways. It is crucial that you grasp the essentials of accent, alliteration, and meter. Also read Langston Hughes, "The Weary Blues," "Sylvester’s Dying Bed," and "Morning After"—all three are in the first section of his Selected Poems.

Wednesday, September 6. Read Chapter Seven of 13 Ways. Options for Monday’s poem.

Friday, September 8. Poem due, with copies for your group.

Monday, September 11. Read Mary Oliver, American Primitive, through page 44.

Wednesday, September 13. Read the rest of American Primitive.

Friday, September 15. Read 13 Ways, Chapter Six. Options for Monday’s poem.

Monday, September 18. Poem due, with copies for your group.

Wednesday, September 20. Read Langston Hughes, Montage of a Dream Deferred, pp. 221-274 of Selected Poems.

Friday, September 22. Bring in lyrics from a pop, rock, or hip-hop song. Read Chapter Three of 13 Ways. Also read Langston Hughes, "Ku Klux," p. 163 of Selected Poems.

Monday, September 25. Writing and revising. Bring in a draft and one copy of a new poem.

Wednesday, September 27. Read Hughes, Selected Poems, 121-142 (the "Life is Fine" section).

Friday, September 29. Poem due, with copies for your group.

Monday, October 2. Read 13 Ways, 374-405. Bring in a copy of a poem you have written for the course.

Wednesday, October 4. In Hughes, Selected Poems, read "Daybreak in Alabama," p. 157, "I, Too," 275, "Mother to Son," p. 187, and the "Madam" poems, 201-217. Exploring monologues and collective personae.

Friday, October 6. Bring in notes, ideas, etc., for a monologue/persona poem.

Monday, October 9. Bring in a draft and one copy of a monologue/persona poem. Review for midterm exam.

Wednesday, October 11. Midterm exam.

Friday, October 13. Field trip.

Wednesday, October 18. Poem due, with copies for your group.

Friday, October 20. Read Chapter Four of 13 Ways.

Monday, October 23. Read Chapter Five of 13 Ways.

Wednesday, October 25. Poem due, with copies for your group.

Friday, October 27. Read Chapter Eight of 13 Ways.

Monday, October 30. Read half of e. e. cummings’ book.

Wednesday, November 1. Read Chapter Ten of 13 Ways.

Friday, November 3. Read the rest of cummings’ book.

Monday, November 6. Poem due, with copies for your group.

Wednesday, November 8. Read Chapters 12 and 13 of 13 Ways. Bring the cummings book to class.

Friday, November 10. Bring in ideas for a sonnet.

Monday, November 13. Bring in a draft and one copy of a sonnet.

Wednesday, November 15. Prose poems: Read Chapter Nine of 13 Ways.

Friday, November 17. Revision day.

Monday, November 20. Revision day. Review for second exam.

Wednesday, November 22. Revision day.

Monday, November 27. Poem due, with copies for your group.

Wednesday, November 29. Second exam.

Friday, December 1. Revision day.

Monday, December 4. Poetry reading.

Wednesday, December 6. Portfolios due.