Can poetry survive in our modern age? What are the generic parameters of poetry as a form of expression? What debt do we owe to the poetry of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries? In the course of responding to such questions, this class will come to understand the development of literature through the last two centuries. The class will also seek to understand and appreciate two novels and a novella; the emphasis, however, will be on poetry: in fact, the prose works are in many ways about the ideals of Romantic poetry.  

We will also spend time understanding the ways that the nineteenth century gave birth to the modern period and, thus ultimately, to us in the twenty-first century.  Readings are arranged chronologically so we never lose track of the history and culture happening behind the literature we read, and each week we will read an article from branchcollective.org to situate our readings in history.

In this web site, you'll find a number of things that will aid you through this course, including chronologies, a sample 'A' paper, and a course Web page that includes definitions of terms that we will discuss over the course of the semester.