English 891PD - S- Poetry & Consciousness

This seminar will be an in-depth discussion of poetry as embodied consciousness on the page. Rooted in exploration of self and world, we'll look at examples of how poetry is uniquely situated to sculpt - from the strange unknowable material of the individual unconscious - a shared experience with readers. Together we will challenge our own ideas of self in writing, investigating concepts of reality, memory, dreams, Nature and modes of consciousness. Our focus will be on the language of poetry, but through the overlaps with various philosophical, psychoanalytical, phenomenological and poetic theory. Moving from the inward self-exploration of poetry to the relational aspect of poetry as participatory experience will lead us to the collective unconscious and uses of myth. We?ll read a wide range of materials: including Ovid and Sophocles, Rilke, all the way up to Komunyakaa, Suess and others. Everyone will do weekly prompts based on the readings. Students will be required to actively participate in discussion. Final paper will be a creative essay or group of poems around a chosen myth with presentation.

This class is open to English graduate students only.