Classes
Reading Poetry for Pleasure
at the Loft Literary Center/Open Book
Date: 6/27/18 – 8/8/18 (This class meets June 27, July 11, July 25, and August 8.)
Location: Open Book-Loft Classroom
Day of the Week: Wednesday
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Ages: Adult
Class Level: Open to All Levels
Genre: For Readers
See The Loft's website for pricing and to register!
Class description:
Many readers find themselves turned off or shut out by poetry. Line breaks and stanzas cause discomfort. Readers fear "not getting it." In this class, we'll acknowledge those anxieties while confronting contemporary poetry head on. Beginning with Edward Hirsch's essay "How to Read A Poem," we'll start to unpack our hesitations and hang-ups about poetry and learn ways to discover poems we do enjoy and how to talk about those poems. With Hirsch's guidance in mind, we'll read poems from the Academy of American Poets and Poetry Magazine to encounter poems by as many writers as possible rather than focusing on single authors. We'll also listen to audio of poets reading their work and hear other writers talk about some of the poems.
We'll ask ourselves which poems we're drawn to, which we resist, and why—no judgment and no "wrong" answers. Throughout, we'll learn new ways of talking about poems, with no pressure to like or "understand" them, but with a goal of learning to better articulate our tastes in poetry and, hopefully, discovering a new writer to watch or reading new work by an old favorite.
All reading levels welcome, though there may be mature content. Prior to the first class, students should read Edward Hirsch's essay "How to Read A Poem" on the Academy of American Poets website. Issues of Poetry Magazine will be distributed in class ($7 copy fee, payable to teaching artist).
at the Loft Literary Center/Open Book
Date: 6/27/18 – 8/8/18 (This class meets June 27, July 11, July 25, and August 8.)
Location: Open Book-Loft Classroom
Day of the Week: Wednesday
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Ages: Adult
Class Level: Open to All Levels
Genre: For Readers
See The Loft's website for pricing and to register!
Class description:
Many readers find themselves turned off or shut out by poetry. Line breaks and stanzas cause discomfort. Readers fear "not getting it." In this class, we'll acknowledge those anxieties while confronting contemporary poetry head on. Beginning with Edward Hirsch's essay "How to Read A Poem," we'll start to unpack our hesitations and hang-ups about poetry and learn ways to discover poems we do enjoy and how to talk about those poems. With Hirsch's guidance in mind, we'll read poems from the Academy of American Poets and Poetry Magazine to encounter poems by as many writers as possible rather than focusing on single authors. We'll also listen to audio of poets reading their work and hear other writers talk about some of the poems.
We'll ask ourselves which poems we're drawn to, which we resist, and why—no judgment and no "wrong" answers. Throughout, we'll learn new ways of talking about poems, with no pressure to like or "understand" them, but with a goal of learning to better articulate our tastes in poetry and, hopefully, discovering a new writer to watch or reading new work by an old favorite.
All reading levels welcome, though there may be mature content. Prior to the first class, students should read Edward Hirsch's essay "How to Read A Poem" on the Academy of American Poets website. Issues of Poetry Magazine will be distributed in class ($7 copy fee, payable to teaching artist).