Frost, Eliot & Stevens, Early 20th Century Poets NEW

Before the first class, members will receive an e-mail handout including all of the poems we will discuss in the course. Our 3 poets, Robert Frost (1874-1963), T. S. Eliot (1888-1965), and Wallace Stevens (1879-1955), were writing during the early 20th century, and each took a very different approach to writing poetry.  These major poets’ works will be discussed as follows:

July 9: Robert Frost
July 16: T. S. Eliot
July 23: Wallace Stevens 

Their poetry is fascinating and challenging.  I will provide a brief biography of each writer, and discuss each of their writing characteristics. Our main focus will be on the e-mailed poems, the ideas and feelings they convey, and the techniques their poets use. I will ask for volunteers to read aloud poems or parts of poems. We will be devoting most of our time to discussing these poems. Zoom Whiteboards will probably be used to show the poems and their readers as they are read aloud and discussed.  20th century poetry is not for wimps. Don’t be concerned if you don’t understand some of it. Keep going, and you will find it interesting.