ENGL 7650 Studies in Poetry
Victorian Poetry
6:30–9:10 T
Chris Keirstead
Often characterized as an age of dour conformity, Britain under the reign of Queen Victoria was, in fact, vibrant with new scientific and social theories, new technologies, and new ways of imagining the world. It was an exciting if anxious time, and in this course, we will examine how a diverse selection of poets engaged with this dynamic social, political, and artistic landscape. In addition to probing these wide-ranging issues, we will also devote careful attention to developments in poetic theory and form, such as the dramatic monologue. Alongside the poetry, course readings include influential essays and other non-fiction prose, all of which are intended to elucidate the issues raised in the poetry and to place them within a wider cultural setting. Over the course of the semester, each student will make two oral presentations: one devoted to a major author or work, the other focusing on a less well-known poet or sub-genre of poetry chosen in consultation with the instructor. Other requirements include a mid-term exam and a seminar paper. The aim of the course will be to provide students with a solid knowledge of the primary texts that have shaped recent critical discussion of Victorian poetry and to provide them with opportunities for original research and publication.
Required Texts (subject to change)
Collins and Rundle, eds. The Broadview Anthology of Victorian Poetry and
Poetics (Broadview, 1999).
Mundenk and Fletcher, eds. Victorian Prose: An Anthology (Columbia,
2000).
Bristow, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Victorian Poetry (Cambridge,
2001).