WWI Poets
WWI Poetry Overview
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Overview
High Modernism is a loosely catchall term for literature that followed WWI — and in many ways existed in reaction to the war. I’ve included here the “war poets,” specifically Wilfrid Owen, whose “Dulce et Decorum Est” is probably the best-known poem of this genre, even though the High Modernist folks are very different in tone, style, and overall viewpoint from the war poets largely because both groups were profoundly affected by the war and its brutality and loss of life. |
Background Reading
NOTE: Readings are mandatory unless specifically marked “Optional.” They are given to help you understand the course material. If you’re having a hard time understanding something, the optional materials can often be very helpful to you. If you have suggestions for optional material you would like to see on this page, please email me at [email protected] with your suggestions. |
Reading Assignments
Outline or take textual notes on all textbook information that you are asked to read. I will give occasional open-note quizzes, so taking notes will definitely help your understanding. Please note that all reading assignments, unless otherwise specified, refer to your text, The Language of Literature. |
Literature Readings
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WWI Poem Texts
Wilfrid Owen
T. S. Eliot
Wallace Stevens (American)
W. H. Auden
e.e. cummings
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Discussion Questions
NOTE: Below are questions we will most likely be addressing in class. These are put here for your convenience and reflection. It would be helpful to you for you to review these questions and think about how you would answer them before we discuss these works together. |
Assorted Questions
“The Emperor of Ice-Cream” For this poem, we will be answering questions from p. 89 of Western Wind — too extensive to repeat here — but as preparation, ask yourself some of the following questions:
“Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town” One fundamental — indeed, absolutely crucial technique used in modern poetry, one that lies behind that whole “collage” effect that modern poetry often uses, is the technique known as parataxis: the act of setting side by side. In a collage, the parataxis is visual: in the Beatles’ famous cover for Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, for instance, think about the relationship set up between the Beatles and such other prominent celebrities and cultural figures such as Marx, Freud, Poe, and comedian Lenny Bruce, all of whom appear in the cover. (See the helpful Wikipedia article for more information.) What relationships does this act of parataxis, of placing side by side suggest? Why is Oscar Wilde next to John Lennon, for example…and so on.
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Possible Assessments and Assignments
Note: These are possible assignments and assessments that may be given during this unit. They are placed here for your convenience and review if you would like to see a typical assessment for this course. |
Writing Assignments
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Resources for the Media-Minded
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Optional Resources
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