LIT093 CM - Becoming Elizabeth Bishop

American Poet Elizabeth Bishop was a genius impersonating an ordinary woman. She is an essential poet of the twentieth century and a national treasure. This course will introduce students to her magnificent poems, lesser-known prose, artful correspondence, and translations from the Portuguese. While also considering Surrealism, ekphrasis, nationality, power, gender, and sexual orientation (Bishop was lesbian), we will make a close study of poetic language and the aesthetics of formalism vs free verse. Alongside Bishop’s intimate, closely observed poems, we will also read work by Robert Lowell, Marianne Moore, May Swenson, Carlos Drummond de Andrade and Octavio Paz.

Prerequisite: Instructor permission

Offered: Occasionally

Credit: 1

Course Number: LIT 093 CM