Short courses

Summary

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - 

That perches in the soul - 

And sings the tune without the words - 

And never stops - at all – 

Emily Dickinson (1830–86)  

In Amherst Massachusetts in the 1800s, American poet Emily Dickinson was considered an eccentric oddity as a women poet, especially one of such rare ability and intense feeling. Famously confined to her family home, Dickinson was inspired by hymns and ballads to experiment with verse, grammar and phrasing to produce profound mystical poems contemplating mortality, gender, family, and societal pressures. Her striking imagery, ‘slant’ rhyme schemes and expressive letters have inspired generations of writers to break boundaries, personally and creatively. Despite a prolific output of 1,800 poems, only 10 were published in her lifetime but her writing continues to find new devotees, with a recent TV series and continued publication of her works.   

Join this course as a newcomer or enthusiast to take a closer look at five of her poems. Guided by our tutor you will explore together Dickinson’s poetic craft and share the insights you find. 

Over a series of talks and collective close-readings, our expert tutor will explain: 

• key features of Emily Dickinson’s work, her times and her place within broader literary culture  
• how to analyse five of her poems in-depth  
• You will also have the chance to discuss and reflect on what you learn with other students and the tutor in seminars 

Choose this course if you want to learn: 

• more about poetry and the rewards of close reading 
• more about Emily Dickinson, her contemporary literary culture and legacy.