LITR314

(Formerly LITR 305) We will read preeminent American poets of the 19th century in tandem with the British Romantic and Victorian poets that influenced their work. Concentrating on the major figures of Emerson, Poe, Dickinson, and Whitman, the course will explore how they both borrowed from and challenged such poets as Coleridge, Byron, E. B. Browning, and Wordsworth. By identifying the concerns these poets shared, we will get a sense of the crosscurrents of thought that shaped the Transatlantic literary scene at a time when America still looked to England for cultural guidance. The course emphasizes close-reading techniques that will enable students to improve their ability to speak and write about poetry.