L.008.32380 Metaphysical Poetry

Lehrende: Prof. Dr. Merle Tönnies

Veranstaltungsart: Hauptseminar

Orga-Einheit: Anglistik/Amerikanistik

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Semesterwochenstunden: 2

Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 50

Voraussetzungen und Empfehlungen:
Introduction to Literary Studies

Literatur:
The poems to be studied will be made available via PAUL. For preparation please re-read the sections on poetry analysis from any of the standard introductions to literary studies.

Kommentar:
Metaphysical poetry is often considered 'difficult', and this was indeed already part of the term itself when it was originally coined as a rather hostile label for this kind of poetry. The main method of approaching the poems in the seminar will be that of close reading. The analysis will concentrate on the texts' characteristic argumentative structures and on the use of stylistic devices, paying special attention to the functions that these techniques are given by the poets. We will compare a selection of both worldly and religious poetry with a special focus on John Donne as the most well-known 'metaphysical' representative. In the second half of the semester, later poets like George Herbert and Andrew Marvell will be studied as well.
It is essential for the success of the seminar that participants prepare the poems under discussion in detail at home. If necessary, this knowledge will be tested in the course of the seminar.

Wichtige Hinweise:
Credits: 3 LP: oral presentation with written documentation or short paper
6 LP: oral presentation with written documentation or short paper; Hausarbeit
Reserve Shelf: to be announced