The Form and Art of Poetry EGL 344 MW 11:20-12:35, Th 10:20-11:10 Allen Hall 334A Ben Howard e-mail: fhowardb@alfred.edu Objectives This course has been designed to promote an understanding of poetic form and to develop skill in the writing of formal verse. Through a series of readings you will gain familiarity with theories of prosody and with poems in a variety of forms and traditions. Through a sequence of exercises you will gain experience in the use of formal devices, including meter and rhythm, line and stanza, syntax and diction. With luck and diligence, you may also write a poem of enduring value. Prerequisities This is an advanced cource, designed for serious students of literature and aspiring writers of verse. To be admitted, you will need to have completed at least one introductory course in imaginative writing. Beyond that, I will assume familiarity with basic terms and concepts. If you have not taken Introduction to Poetry or its equivalent, you would do well to study John F. Nims's Western Wind or a similar text and to acquaint yourself with such fundamentals as image, metaphor, irony, and symbol. Required Texts The Norton Anthology of Poetry. Third Edition. Ed. Alexander and Allison, et. al. Norton, 1988. The Sounds of Poetry. Robert Pinsky. Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1998. A Poetry Handbook. Mary Oliver. Harcourt Brace, 1995. For a further explanation of terms and concepts, consult the Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics (Princeton) in the reference room of the Herrick Library. Required Work Weekly exercises in the elements of form. 15-40 lines each. Two analytic papers (2000 words each). The first paper, due February 27, will focus on versification in Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." The second, due April 21, will analyze figuration in Stevens's "Sunday Morning." A final examination (definitions, identifications, essay) to be given on Saturday, May 10 at 8 a.m. in Allen 334A. Standards for Written Work All written work must meet minimal standards for grammar, usage, spelling, and typography. Late work is subject to loss of credit. Work which does not meet minimal standards will be returned for revision, with loss of credit. Evaluation Evaluation will be based on the precision of your writing and the depth of your understanding. The weekly exercises will count for 50%, the papers for 30%, and the final exam for 20%. Your contribution to discussions will influence your final mark. Topics 1/20-23 Meter and rhythm (i) 1/27-30 Meter and rhythm (ii) 2/3-6 Line and stanza (i) 2/10-13 Line and stanza (ii) 2/17-20 Rhyme 2/24-27 Sound-patterning 3/3-6 Synthesis, review - - - 3/17-20 Figuration (i) 3/24-27 Figuration (ii) 3/31-4/3 Syntax 4/7-10 Diction and tone 4/14-17 Forms: sestina 4/21-24 Forms: villanelle 4/28-5/1 Forms: sonnet 5/5 Synthesis, review Conferences I hope you will find this course challenging, enjoyable, and productive. If you would like help with your assignments or would like to discuss aspects of poetry and poetics, please feel free to make an appointment. You can reach me at 871-2267 or by e-mail at fhowardb@alfred.edu.