Online course

What Is Poetry? An Introduction to Literary Analysis

Understand the basics of poetry analysis and learn key skills for studying English literature by exploring a variety of texts.

What Is Poetry? An Introduction to Literary Analysis

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Overview
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Start dates
Requirements
Educators
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  • Duration 3 weeks
  • Weekly study 3 hours
This course is part of the program Reading English Literature, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Bachelor of Arts. Find out more.

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Explore, understand and critique poetry

What are the different ways you can understand a poem? How do different elements of a poem work together? What difference does context make to literature?

Get answers to these questions and more with this course introducing poetry analysis and literary analysis. You will examine a variety of texts written in different genres in order to develop an understanding of how writers deploy language to convey their ideas. You will develop fundamental skills in literary analysis, preparing your for further study of literature and creative writing.

What topics will you cover?

  • What is poetry?
  • Carpe diem
  • Storytelling

When would you like to start?

  • Date to be announced
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What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Explain key literary concepts and findings in appropriate written forms.
  • Interpret literary works from different genres and eras at a foundational level.
  • Identify a variety of literary forms and the key terms used to describe and understand them.
  • Apply core linguistic concepts and principles in analysing English literature.

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in poetry, English, literature, or literary analysis. You don’t need any previous experience.

Who will you learn with?

Caroline Webb

Caroline Webb

I'm an Associate Professor of English literature at the University of Newcastle, Australia. I am passionate about poetry, but my research focuses on modern literature, especially fantasy.

Who developed the course?

The University of Newcastle is a world-class university distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Ranked in Australia’s Top 10 universities, and #214 in the world (QS rankings, 2019).

Advance your career with a degree

What's different about this course?

Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!

How do degrees work on FutureLearn?

Do the free course
Join and complete the program
Get academic credit for an online degree from The University of Newcastle Australia

Which program and degree is this course part of?

This course is part of the program Reading English Literature, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Bachelor of Arts.

Find out more and apply

Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join: