“I dwell in Possibility—
A fairer House than Prose—”
While we think of poetry as the best words in the best order, we sometimes forget how important its poetic or metaphoric thinking is to various subjects such as writing, speaking, business, and science. This course will not only enable teachers to learn how to teach poetry well, but also enrich those teachers wishing to understand and appreciate poetry better themselves.
This brief course features poet and professor Christine Perrin as she describes the major elements of poetry and also discusses them with four upper school students in a seminar format, therefore modeling how to teach poetry to students. In addition to familiarizing us with the forms and elements of poetry, Christine also shows us how to read a poem closely and absorb its beauty.
This course is based on her book The Art of Poetry, and each presentation will follow one of the chapters from this book.
Instructional Hours: 17.30, CEU Credits: 2
Introductory Conversations
Why Study Poetry?
Understanding Poetry through Poems
Lessons
- Lesson 1: Image
- Lesson 2: Metaphor
- Lesson 3: Symbols
- Lesson 4: Words
- Lesson 5: Sound and More Sound
- Lesson 6: Rhythm
- Lesson 7: Shape: Stanza and Line
- Lesson 8: Tone: Putting It All Together
- Lesson 9: History of Form, Movements, Genres
- Lesson 10: Verse Forms
- Lesson 11: Shaping Forms
- Lesson 12: Emily Dickinson: A Case Study in Form
- Lesson 13: Open Verse
- Lesson 14: Walt Whitman: A Case Study in Open Verse
- Lesson 15: Narrative Poems: An Anthology

To obtain a certification credit for this course, simply complete each presentation lesson or discussion in the course (by marking it complete or by taking the quiz) and then also take the certification test at the end of the course. The quizzes are designed to ensure that you have understood the essential content of each presentation, and they can be taken more than once if necessary. The cumulative certification test at the end of the course is given as a pass/fail test and requires that you upload one or more essays demonstrating your understanding of the course. (Please note that essays are simply evaluated by word count.) When you have completed the course, a certificate that you can print or email will become available within “My Courses” (accessible under “Courses” in the main menu when you are signed in as an active subscriber).
We recommend previewing the essay question within the end of course test before starting the course. This will help in guiding your note taking as you progress through the course. Please allow approximately 2 weeks for essay submissions to be reviewed.
Lessons

Conversation 1: Why Study Poetry?
Preview
Conversation 2: Understanding Poetry through Poems
Conversation 2: Understanding Poetry through Poems Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Conversation 3: Poetry and Faith
Conversation 3: Poetry and Faith Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 1: Images
Preview
Activity 1: Images
Activity 1: Images Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 2: Metaphor
Preview
Activity 2: Metaphor
Activity 2: Metaphor Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 3: Symbols
Lesson 3: Symbols Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 3: Symbol
Activity 3: Symbol Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 4: Words
Lesson 4: Words Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 4: Words
Activity 4: Words Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 5: Sound
Lesson 5: Sound Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 5: Sound
Activity 5: Sound Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 6: Rhythm
Lesson 6: Rhythm Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 6: Rhythm
Activity 6: Rhythm Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 7: Shape
Lesson 7: Shape Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 7: Shape
Activity 7: Shape Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 8: Tone
Lesson 8: Tone Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 8: Tone
Activity 8: Tone Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 10: Verse Forms
Lesson 10: Verse Forms Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 10: Verse Forms
Activity 10: Verse Forms Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 11: Shaping Forms
Lesson 11: Shaping Forms Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 11: Shaping Forms
Activity 11: Shaping Forms Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 12: Emily Dickinson—A Case Study in Form
Lesson 12: Emily Dickinson—A Case Study in Form Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 12: Emily Dickinson
Activity 12: Emily Dickinson Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 13: Open Verse
Lesson 13: Open Verse Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 13: Open Verse
Activity 13: Open Verse Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 14: Walt Whitman—A Case Study in Open Verse
Lesson 14: Walt Whitman—A Case Study in Open Verse Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 14: Walt Whitman
Activity 14: Walt Whitman Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 15: Narrative Poems
Lesson 15: Narrative Poems Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Activity 15: Narrative Poems
Activity 15: Narrative Poems Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 16: Growing Student Interest in Poetry
Lesson 16: Growing Student Interest in Poetry Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

End of Course Test: Art of Poetry
End of Course Test: Art of Poetry Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.