Prerequisite:  3 hours of literature 

Activities: We will study poetry as a genre of literature, with emphasis on forms, styles, reading and analysis of poems from a variety of periods.  

Dr. Cunningham's interpretation of the course catalogue:

We will be looking at poetry from many angles. 

First, we will look at it chronologically so we will be studying the works of early epic poets as well as looking at the Greek lyric. 

Then we will turn our interest to medieval and renaissance poetry and genres. 

Inevitably, we will study the nature of those poetic genres from the epic to the sonnet, from ode to formal verse satire, from the palinode to the panegyric.  We will also look at the most important poets of the ages.  We will concern ourselves with their use of form, metaphor, simile, image, as well as their engagement of the reader. 

Finally, we will examine the poetry of our own age from the vista of our earlier experience in the semester.