What is poetry, and what is its role in contemporary society? How has poetry changed during the last 50 years? Who is writing and publishing poetry now, and what concerns do contemporary poets engage with?   This course will explore a range of contemporary poetry through a focus on specific writers, topics and themes. As well as work by English poets we will study that of Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Afro-Caribbean and Asian-British poets, ending with a consideration of international poetry written in English. I have given a lot of different examples of poets for each category, but we will normally focus on just two or three, and may also read others outside this list. 

 

 

·        To consider the role and function of poetry in contemporary British society, and the broader issue of poetry composed in English   

·        To introduce students to a range of contemporary poetry expressing diverse cultural and national perspectives 

·        To provide opportunities to practise and improve skills in reading, oral presentation and literary analysis 

·        To help students to develop an understanding of the contexts of composition and reception of poetry