LIT 2030 - SUMMER B 2026 - PATTERSON

“A poem should not mean / But be”: so writes Archibald MacLeish in “Ars Poetica.” How, then, do we read and respond to poems? This course will introduce you to the subjects, styles, and contexts of poetry from a wide range of historical periods. Together, we’ll learn how poems are not ciphers to decode, but worlds to explore. We’ll learn how to cultivate our own interpretations and write about poems in a way that feels both scholarly and beautiful. You will emerge from this course with a deeper appreciation of poetry as well as preparation for further study in the field of literature. All levels of experience are welcome. Fulfills a state-mandated writing (W) credit and genre distribution course for the LMC major.