Module: Poetry in Context

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Poetry in Context
Module Code	LIT1028 (ITS: EL208)
Faculty	English	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module analyses poetry’s ability to explore themes and demonstrate ideas, focusing on its responsiveness to history and politics.

Learning Outcomes

1. Show how poetry acts as a criticism of culture.
2. Compare and contrast poetry across a range of contexts and cultural situations.
3. Perform a close analysis of a poem that demonstrates how form and style relate to theme and subject matter.
4. Talk about poetry as a political medium.
5. Understand the continuities of theme that permeate the poetic tradition

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	Two per week
Tutorial	4	4 per semester
Independent Study	99	Reading, research and reflection. Completion of two assessments, one at mid-semester (~1000 words) and one at the end of the semester (1500-1600 words).
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20653	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Kit Fryatt	Module Teacher	Jack Quin, Michael Hinds

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Mid-semester assessment, essay of ~1000 words.	25%	n/a
Essay	Final assessment, totalling 1500-1600 words of writing.	75%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Poetry in the public sphere from the 17th century to the present moment

Indicative Reading List

Books:

John Milton: 0, The Complete English Poems, 978-067940997
Allen Ginsberg: 0, Howl, Kaddish and Other Poems, 978-014119016
Diane di Prima: 0, Revolutionary Letters, 978-0-9957162
John Berryman: 0, The Dream Songs, 978-037453066
Cook, John: 2004, Poetry in Theory, Blackwell, Oxford,
Ferguson, Mary et al.: 2004, The Norton Anthology of Poetry, Norton, New York,
Greene, Roland et al.: 2011, The Princeton Encylopaedia of Poetry and Poetics, Princeton University Press, Princeton,
Longley, Edna: 1999, Poetry and Posterity, Bloodaxe, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,
Longley, Edna: 1986, Poetry in the Wars, Bloodaxe, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,
Paulin, Tom: 0, Minotaur, Faber, London,
Matigny, Erik: 2011, Poetic Genres, Blackwell, Oxford,
Matterson, Stephen and Jones, Darryl: 2011, Studying Poetry, Bloomsbury, London,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

1: Website, Academy of American Poets, Poetry,
415653: 1, Website, Norton Anthology of Poetry, Poetry,
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nap/Poetry_Workshop.htm: 415654, 1, Website, Poetry Ireland, Poetry
http://www.poetryireland.ie/: