Introduction to Poetry

14.00-15.30      Monday January 12th, 19th, 26th and 2nd Feb

From ancient epic to modern lyrics, humans have expressed their most important experiences in the form of poems. So reading and writing poetry expands our understanding of different times and cultures and helps us think about what it means to be human. This introductory course will give you the keys to understanding and appreciating poems from different times and places. We’ll look at how poets use sound, form and imagery to create meaning, and exercise our own sills of interpretation and imagination. Introduction to Poetry is designed above all to enhance your confidence and enjoyment as a reader of poems and provide ideas which will help you in your own writing. No experience necessary, nervous readers especially welcome!

Malcolm Hebron has a doctorate in English Literature from Oxford and, for many years, taught at Winchester College. He has written academic books and articles and is the author of How to Read a Poem (Connell Guides).