Course Catalogue

Module Code and Title:       LIT103  Introduction to Contemporary Poetry       

Programme:                          BA in English Studies

Credit Value:                         12

Module Tutor:                       Sonam Deki (Coordinator), Vanlallawmkimi, Utsav K. Sharma

 

General objective: This introductory to contemporary poetry module aims to strengthen students’ confidence in reading and comprehending poetry. Through a deeper appreciation for the poets and their poetry, this module seeks to give students a sense of how poetry continues to thrive in many different styles and forms across the globe. The module also testifies to the role of poetry as a commentary upon or critique of contemporary society.  

Learning outcomes – On completion of the module, students will be able to:

  1. Explain the terminologies and techniques used in the poems.
  2. Recite poetry employing proper intonation, pace, and pronunciation. 
  3. Analyse the imageries and metaphors used in the poems.
  1. Clearly express their sentiments about and opinions on the poems discussed. 
  2. Distinguish spoken word poetry from other genres of poetry.
  3. Make inter-textual comparisons between poems.
  4. Examine the depiction of contemporary society and social questions through poetry.

Learning and Teaching Approach:

Type

Approach

Hours per week

Total credit hours

Contact

Lectures

2

60

Discussion subsections

0.5

Tutorial: Poetry Fest

1.5

Independent study

Written assignments & Preparation for Poetry Fest 

2

60

Reading and review of class materials

2

Total

120

Assessment Approach: 

  1. In-class critical response paper: 15%

Students will write a short in-class critical response of 300 – 350 words on two poems making inter-textual connections. Assessment should evaluate the students’ understanding of the text as well as their ability to analyse the text beyond classroom teaching. 

 

Assessment will be based on the following criteria: 

Critical Analysis and Quality of Argument: 15 marks

Use of examples from the Primary texts: 30 marks

Depth of Knowledge and Accuracy of understanding: 30 marks

Language Use and Structure & Organisation: 25 marks 

  1. Poetry Fest: 32% 

Students will plan and organise a Poetry Fest where audience from within and outside the English Programme will be invited. Individual students will choose one contemporary poem outside of the syllabus, and will recite, analyse and explain how the poem impacted them. 

 

The recitation and analysis of the poem (20%) will be assessed on the following marking criteria:

Quality of Recitation: 30 marks

Analysis of the poem: 30 marks

Voice, Intonation and Articulation: 20 marks

Posture and Preparedness: 10 marks

Time Management: 10 marks

 

While reciting their poems in the poetry fest, students will display their interpretation of the poem creatively. 

 

The assessment of the visual display of the poem (5%) will be based on the following marking criteria:

Relevance to the recitation: 36 marks

Originality: 32 marks

Creativity: 32 marks

 

Students will be required to maintain a journal of 200 to 250 words where they explain their choice of poems, their methods of preparation for the Fest, and their reflections on the experience. 

 

The assessment for the journal (7%) will be based on the following marking criteria:

Analysis of the experience & of the poem picked: 40 marks

Originality and organisation of Ideas: 30 marks

Language use and clarity: 20 marks

Presentation and proofreading: 10 marks

  1. Peer feedback on VLE: 3%

During the Poetry Fest, students are expected to listen and keep notes on their classmates’ recitations. They will then upload feedback on three recitations on VLE for a total of 3%. 

 

The feedback will be based on:

Accuracy of and meaningful observations: 20 marks

Recommendations: 10 marks

  1. Class participation and preparedness: 10%

Students will be expected to participate substantially in class discussions, with contributions reflecting adequate preparation for topics under discussion. 5% will be assessed before midterm and the remaining 5% post midterm. 

  1. Midterm Examination: 10%

Students will take a written exam of 1.5 hr. duration covering topics up to the mid-point of the semester. This assessment is comprehensive and summative in nature, and will comprise structured questions from all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, and will follow the programme’s blue-print for Midterm Examination questions.

  1. Semester-End Examination: 30%

Students will take a written exam of 2.5 hr. duration encompassing all the subject matter covered in the semester. This assessment is comprehensive and summative in nature, and will comprise structured questions from all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, and will follow the programme blue-print for Semester-End Examination questions. 

Overview of assessment approaches and weighting

Areas of assignments

Quantity

Weighting 

A. Critical response paper

1

15%

B. Poetry Fest 

1

32%

C. Peer Feedback on VLE

1

3%

D. Class participation & preparedness

1

10%

E. Midterm Examination

1

10%

Total Continuous Assessment (CA)

 

70%

Semester-end Examination (SE)

 

30%

Pre-requisites: None

Subject matter:

  1. Unit I: Introduction to Contemporary Poetry
    1. Close reading and analysis of Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins 
    2. Close reading and analysis of Masks by Shel Silverstein
    3. Close reading and analysis of To the Foot from its Child by Pablo Neruda
    4. Reading aloud with intonation and correct pronunciation
    5. Practice of choral and individual reading 
    6. Importance of curiosity
    7. Use of images and imageries in poetry
  2. Unit II: Voice in Poetry
    1. Close reading and analysis of Morning Love Poem by Tara Skurtu 
    2. Close reading and analysis of Little Red Cap by Carol Ann Duffy
    3. Close reading and analysis of Snowmen by Agha Shahid Ali
    4. Close reading and analysis of Of Mothers and Heirlooms by Guru Tshering Ladakhi
    5. Representation in poetry
    6. Finding a voice versus being silenced.
    7. Elements of Voice: tone and diction
    8. Lineation in poetry
  3. Unit III: Reading Poetry in Context
    1. Close reading and analysis of Toy Boat by Ocean Vuong
    2. Close reading and analysis of Bluebird by Charles Bukowski
    3. Close reading and analysis of Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy
    4. Close reading and analysis of Goodbye Party for Ms. Pushpa T.S. by Nissim Ezekiel 
    5. Context and subtext
    6. Depiction of contemporary society and social questions through poetry
    7. Critique of contemporary society through poetry
  4. Unit IV: Aestheticism in Nature Poems
    1. Close reading and analysis of From Blossoms by Li-Young Lee 
    2. Close reading and analysis of Elegy by Manohar Shetty
    3. Close reading and analysis of my garden by Sonam Choden Dorji
    4. Close reading and analysis of A Spring Day by Kim Yong-Taek
    5. Values of simplicity and aestheticism 
    6. Importance of vivid sensory details in nature poems
    7. Lyric poetry
  5. Unit V: Spoken Word Poetry
    1. Close watching and analysis of Before the Internet by Phil Kaye
    2. Close watching and analysis of The Type by Sarah Kay
    3. Close watching and analysis of Using Poetry as a Way to Fight Back by Lee Mokobe 
    4. Close watching and analysis of Dinosaurs in the Hood by Danez Smith
    5. Performance in Spoken Word Poetry
    6. Musicality and sound
    7. Poetry as a vehicle for change 

Reading List:

Essential reading (An essential reading compilation will be made available to students)

Ali, A. S. (1987).  Snowmen. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50985/snowmen

Bukowski, C. (2003). Bluebird. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bluebird/

Collins, B. (1996).  Introduction to poetry. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46712/introduction-to-poetry

Dorji, S. C. (2016). History in a pebble. Thomson Press India Ltd.

Duffy, C. A. (n.d.). Little red cap. https://www.scribd.com/document/173967974/Little-Red-Cap-by-Carol-Ann-Duffy

Ezekiel, N. (n.d.). Goodbye party for Miss Pushpa T.S.. http://www.english-for-students.com/Goodbye-Party.html

Kay, S. (2015). The type. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYAiYMlOCI4

Kaye, P. (2018). Before the internet. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QKoGKKfOeU.

Ladakhi, G. T.  Of mothers and heirlooms.

Lee, Li-Young. (1986). From blossoms. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43012/from-blossoms

Lennard, J. (2005). The poetry handbook: A guide to reading poetry for pleasure and practical Criticism (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Mokobe, L. (2017). Using poetry as a way to fight back. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_zL_k8CYMw.

Neruda, P. (n.d.). To the foot from its child. (J. Bateman, Trans.). http://motherbird.com/foot_child.html

Piercy, M. (2004). Barbie doll. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/barbie-doll/.

Shetty, M. (2004). Anthology of contemporary Indian poetry. https://bigbridge.org/BB17/poetry/indianpoetryanthology/Manohar_Shetty.html

Silverstein, S. (2018). Masks. https://sacompassion.net/poem-masks-by-shel-silverstein/.

Skurtu, T. (2013). Morning love poem. https://read.dukeupress.edu/the-minnesota-review/article-abstract/2013/81/2/47908/Morning-Love-Poem

Smith, D. (2015). Dinosaurs in the hood. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJwiOTeKDOQ.

Vuong, O. (2016). Toy boat. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/88733/toy-boat

Yong-taek, K. (2012). A spring day. (S, Chae-Pyong., & A.Rashid, Trans.). https://jaypsong.blog/category/kim-yong-taek/

Additional reading

Poets.org. (n.d.). Glossary of poetic terms. https://poets.org/glossary  

Date: June 2022
Royal Thimphu College