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Last Updated: May 13, 2008 9:23 AM

Overview

What is the relationship between desire and repression? Should we sacrifice worldly pleasures for spiritual fulfillment? Exploring the works of Shakespeare and Blake will provide more questions than answers as we pursue these and other related issues. After beginning with a review of poetic terms and devices, we will focus on the style and content of the particular poets. Students will be evaluated on the basis of both expository and analytic writing, two exams, and class participation.

Syllabus

Texts
Pinsky, Robert The Sounds of Poetry
Shakespeare's Sonnets
Selected Poetry and Prose of Blake

Test/Paper Dates
3/12  In-Class Essay – explicate new poem using terms and techniques covered in class
4/24  Test on Shakespeare's Sonnets
5/16  Test on William Blake's Poetry
5/22   Proverbs of Hell Essay

Printable Syllabus

Course Expectations

I expect you to engage in literature and writing that could inspire you to think in ways that perhaps you hadn't before. The specific areas I describe later will help stretch your mind to think more reflectively and analytically. Of course I cannot prescribe passion, yet in many ways I believe that passion stirs us to our best work.

Reading
Read actively. Read with a pen. As you're reading, consider how the text develops plot, character, and theme. Make notes in the margin to capture your reactions to particular moments. We will have daily reading assignments; complete the daily reading assignments to avoid the crunch of reading a lot of challenging material all at once. Arrive to class with the text so we can refer to specific passages and hear them read aloud.

Writing
We will develop our voice in writing through several exercises throughout the term. Pursue the full process of writing: brainstorming, drafting, peer critiquing, and revising. In order to take advantage of that process, all writing assignments should be completed on time. Late assignments will be penalized one third of a grade per day.

Speaking and Listening
“The classroom is the drama with speaking parts for everyone.” Express your thoughts and feelings on our texts; the writers we explore did not produce their material because someone told them they had to—they produced these works because they felt something powerfully that moved them to write about it. Listen with care and respect to the seemingly outlandish perspective, whether it comes from one of the writers or one of your classmates. Class participation will be a part of your grade.

Assignments

On the Marionette Theater

Blake essay assignment

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