First episode of Poetry: A Basic Course:James Merrill’s

This is actually the second class, since we had an introductory class last week.  This is a course in the close reading of poetry.   Today's class largely on James Merrill's poem b o d y, on the limits of close reading (if any), and on "Roses are red..."   Syllabus outline, to be updated periodically:   Topics   This syllabus is done by topics.  In order to remain flexible I will update weekly with specific readings.  Right now the syllabus is aspirational, and will give you a general sense of the order of topics and the issues we’ll discuss.  But if, as is likely, we don’t get to everything, we’ll have to decide what to spend less time on.   Th        Aug 25             Introduction, etc.                                     Handout, including:  “b o d y” (James Merrill) “Easter Wings” (George Herbert) “The Comfort” (Alice Notely) Excerpt from Don Juan (Lord Byron) “My sweet old Etcetera” (Cummings)                                     T          Aug 30             Rhyme                                     Cole Porter: “You’re the top”                                     Skelton: “Tunning of Eleanor Rumming” (excerpts)                                                   “Lullay lullay like a child”                                     Auden:  “Lullaby”                                                                                        Th        Sept  1               T          Sept  6             Th        Sept  8   T          Sept 13 Th        Sept 15                                     T          Sept 20            Meter Th        Sept 22              T          Sept 27            NO CLASS     Th        Sept 29            First Paper Due                                                         T          Oct  4              Th        Oct  6                T          Oct 11             Interplay between rhyme and meter Th        Oct 13             NO CLASS (“Brandeis Monday”)                   T          Oct 18             NO CLASS (“Brandeis Monday”)     Th        Oct 20               T          Oct 25                         Th        Oct 27             Metaphor   T          Nov  1             Second Paper Due Th        Nov  3             More forms                                     T          Nov  8             Th        Nov  9                                     T          Nov 15             Revisions                                            Th        Nov 16                                                                                    T          Nov 22            Th        Nov 24             NO CLASS                   T          Nov 29            Th        Dec  1              Two extremes: free verse and hip hop   T          Dec  6              Third Paper Due