This graduate course will examine the many traditions and schools of thought in modern and contemporary poetry, including lyric, narrative, beat, surrealism, and imagism, among others, and will explore the ways in which a poem might simultaneously incorporate a variety of these influences. Students will read poetics and poetry from these many threads of tradition. Readings and discussions will both look back to the lineage of poetry that gave rise to more recent schools of thought and also look to the future of poetry and poetics. We will address the broad question of form in poetry and the various theories regarding open and closed form. The course will also involve some focus on the theory and practice of translating poetry. Each student will present on at least two of our areas of emphasis and write two papers of 8-10 pages each. Several informal prose responses of 2 pages each that respond to the readings will also be required. Class will include some exercises of emulation as a useful analytical technique. Portfolios of about 30 pages will be due near the end of the semester.

Texts: Twentieth Century American Poetics, Twentieth Century American Poetry, (McGraw Hill) and others TBA