How do you go about writing poetry? (Advice I)
In this article, Dr Nicoletta Asciuto explores how to approach writing about poetry. How shall we begin to write about poetry? In order to write about poetry, we first need …
Course: Poetry: How to Read a Poem
Some thoughts on tradition and belonging
In this article, we explore a range of writing on tradition: what it is, the different forms it can take, and how writers may or may not feel they belong …
How do you go about writing poetry? (Advice II)
In this article, Professor Matthew Campbell gives us his advice on how to write about poetry. He asks how far we should consider the life of the poet, and how …
Introducing Week Four
In this video, Dr Alexandra Kingston-Reese introduces the material we will cover this week. Writing about poetry will form our central focus for this week. What do you want to …
The Ghazal
In this article, Professor Claire Chambers explores the history of the ghazal. Ghazal poetry is an intimate and short lyric form of verse from the Middle East and South Asia. …
If you’ve enjoyed Week Three…
In this article, Dr JT Welsch explores further avenues of study if you would like to find out more about intertextuality, translation, or ekphrasis. As we heard this week, the …
The Sonnet: Making Time
In this article, Professor Brian Cummings explores time in the sonnet – have a look at the ‘see also’ section to find the poems that Professor Cummings’ examines in this …
A very short history of poetic form
In this video, Professor Hugh Haughton gives a very short history of poetic form, focusing on the sonnet form. Below, we’ve enclosed links to some of the sonnets Professor Hugh …
How to read a line
In this article, Dr Kenneth Clarke explores how to read a line a poetry. This article aims to help you think about the different ways you can approach poetry, and …
Summing up week three
Dr Alexandra Kingston-Reese, our course convener, sums up the material that we have covered in week three of our course, ‘How to Read a Poem’. This week, we’ve discussed intertextuality, …
Five things to look out for when you read a poem
In this video, Dr James Williams details five things to look out for when reading a poem. Which of the five things detailed in this video seems to be most …
Poetry and its therapeutic use
In this article, Flora Sagers, a PhD student at the University of York and one of our course educators, details poetry’s therapeutic potential. The best moments in reading are when …
Your poetic toolbox – some useful tools and helpful hints
There are lots of useful terms we can use to help us talk about types of poems, or patterns within poems. Knowing these terms will help you add to your …
‘Handfast’ and its intertexts
In this article, Professor Helen Smith discusses the intertexts of Vahni Capildeo’s poem, ‘Handfast’, from Capildeo’s collection Measures of Expatriation. In our Downloads section, you can find a full version …
Tracing Intertexts – (II)
In this video, Vahni Capildeo traces the intertextual relationship between the contemporary poetry of Caroline Bergvall and the Middle English poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. Find out how these poets are …
