Introduction to Poetry: What makes it poetry? Line breaks. Figurative language and imagery. Sound—rhythm, meter, rhyme. Free vs. form. Where to get inspiration.
Line breaks: How line affects rhythm and sound. White space. Emotional impact.
Figurative Language & Imagery: Figurative language—metaphor, simile, personification, onomatopoeia, synesthesia. Finding images. Bringing images to life.
Sound: Rhythm. Meter. Rhyme. Repetition. Alliteration. Assonance. Consonance.
Classic Forms: Sonnet. Sestina. Villanelle. Pantoum. Haiku. Haibun. Apostrophe. Narrative.
Contemporary Forms: Prose poem. Found poetry. Persona. Ekphrasis. Narrative.
Voice: Voice defined. Types of voice and vision. Finding your voice. Style. Digging deeper.
Imitation and Themes: Gaining inspiration and technique through imitation. Responding to themes. Drawing out your uniqueness.
Revision: Stages of revision. Techniques for testing your work. The art of reduction. Knowing when it's done.
Publication and the Poetry Scene: Finding homes for your work. The submission process. Participating in the poetry scene.
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
