Department of English

In this fast-paced course we will read and discuss a *great* range of modern and contemporary U.S. poets--from Pound to Perelman.  Aside from providing a survey and chronology of twentieth-century poetry, this version of English 88 will offer one--I think, helpful--way of understanding the transition from modernism to postmodernism.  Thus some students may wish to enroll as much to gain an understanding of the modernism-postmodernism problem through a study of recent poetry as to gain access to the work of these many poets.  Students need not have prior knowledge of poetry or poetics, although a familiarity with writers and issues covered in English 201 will be very helpful. Although it is likely to be a large class, it will operate almost wholly as a discussion.  Requirements include many one-page "position" papers; a comprehensive final examination; and a willingness to use electronic mail, to read some of the poetry through electronic
resources, and to participate fully in a listserver (e-mailing list) discussion.

For some of the e-texts, look under English 88 in the Course Materials section of the English Gopher (#8 on the main menu).

A full reading schedule and syllabus will be available for any student who requests it through e-mail: afilreis@english.upenn.edu.