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ENG 106--INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE: POETRY
Fall 1997 Office: Deschutes 16, 383-7533
Professor Stacey Donohue Office Hours: TBA
TEXT: Introduction to Poetry, 9th/ed. Edited by Kennedy and Gioia.
Course Description:
English 106 is a course in reading and interpreting poetry. Reading poetry is often demanding, but ultimately rewarding for those who approach it with an open mind. Where there are people there are poems. Some of the earliest writings known are in verse. And because poetry has consistently figured so large in human culture, many people have tried to define its true nature: "a painting that speaks; the best words in the best order; "The supreme fiction"; "A criticism of life"; "The breath and finer spirit of all knowledge"; "A little leaf in the drawer of a sublet room"; "A way of taking life by the throat." Most readers and writers of poetry find it difficult to agree on a definition of poetry. Maybe by the end of the quarter you will be able to come up with your own.
This quarter, we will discuss the attributes and techniques that make up a poem, and discuss how these "Elements" of poetry can contribute to your understanding and enjoyment of a particular poem. You may also find you enjoy poetry more if you set aside an uninterrupted stretch of time for reading; most poems begin to yield their full meaning only after several careful, unhurried readings. Try also to keep an open mind as you read: "Listen" to what the poem is trying to tell you in its own language. Of course, a poem can have many different interpretations, but through class discussion we will examine which interpretations seem more valid than others. Learning the elements or conventions of poetry, reading, rereading, participating in stimulating discussions, working out your ideas in writing: your enjoyment and success in this course depend on your participation in these activities.
Evaluation and Course Requirements
Topics and details of the readings and assignments will be given out in class; in class discussion and assignments are designed to help you with the goals of this course, so attendance is expected. If you are absent or plan to be absent, it is your responsibility to find out the reading assignments.
10 Weekly Assignments (1 late allowed) 40 points
10+ In-Class Assignments (most cannot be made up) 20 points
Midterm Exam 15 points
Final Exam 15 points
Final Project 10 points
100-95 = A
94-90 = A-
89-87 = B+
86-84 = B
83-80 = B-
79-77 = C+
76-72 = C
71-65 = D
64 or less = F
Final Project: By Week 2, choose a poem. It may or may not be from our textbook. Each week, write a paragraph about that poem, giving your response to it. Your response should change as we read each chapter. I would like you to examine how your response to the poem changes after you read each chapter. Do you see something that you didn't see before? What it is? How does that influence the way you understand the poem? By week 6, I'd like to see at least FOUR paragraphs, one written each week or so. By week 12 (at the final), I'd like to see at least EIGHT paragraphs, one written each week or so (including your first four or more). In your final paragraph, please summarize how your response to the poem changed throughout the term. Be as specific as possible. Please note: This is not a time consuming assignment if done a little bit each week or so. If you choose to do it the night before it's due, you will not get the satisfaction of seeing how your perceptions have changed over the term.
