Fall 2012: Crewe & Zeiger (2A)
Poetry and Poetic Theory (Identical to English 63.1)
In addition to reading poetry, we will examine theories of poetry, relying mainly on The Norton Anthology of Criticism and Theory and Poetry in Theory, 1900-2000 (Blackwell). These volumes provide a rich, comprehensive overview of poetic theory from Greek antiquity to the present, covering Anglo-American, Continental, and other theorists. We will consider the "philosophy" of poetic composition in different historical periods and contexts, and will examine the continuing interplay between poetic theory and practice. We will study attitudes toward poetry and the sometimes antagonistic interplay between theorizing about poetry and writing it.
