Language in Poetry from Asia and Africa  

Dott.ssa Sainsbury

Fridays 15-17 Room 007 vSR 

Office Hours  Friday 17-19 Room 24  vSR by appointment

Working with a selection of poems from India, Pakistan, East and West Africa, this module investigates ways in which different linguistic contexts have stimulated poetic innovation. The course includes study of the varieties of English used in these geographical areas and the political and cultural implications of use of the English language in poetry. Reference texts include Jennifer Jenkins, World Englishes: A Resource Book for Students, (London,Routledge, 2003) and Stephan Gramley, Kurt-Michael Pátzold, A Survey of Modern English, (London, Routledge, 2004).

The course aims to help students make their own linguistic and critical analysis of texts and research the social and political background to the writers’ choices. In order to improve theseskills they are asked to work in pairs during class, make brief oral presentations, complete regular homework assignments and take a final in-class written exam. The presentations, assignments and exam are all assessed for their final grade.

The course booklet is  available at Copisteria X, via San Gallo 92r from Friday 22nd September and should be brought to the first lesson.

Those students who did not take the written exam in December should come to do the exam on Friday 17th January at 1pm,  via Santa Reparata (room to be confirmed).

Assignment for second lesson, 11th October: 

1. Read pp 18-27  and be prepared to answer questions on the reading.

2. Re-read 'The Opposable Thumb' on p.6 of your booklet and be prepared to comment further on the poem.

Assignment for third lesson, 18th October: 

1. Reread 'The Patriot' on p.5 of your booklet and be prepared to comment further on the poem.

Assignment for fourth lesson, 25th Oct.(see also assignment for 8th November)

Read pp 30-31 'What is an Indian Poem? write a list of 10 things that you find interesting about the poem.

Assignment for 8th November

1.Write a concise analysis of one of the three poems we have read (The Patriot', The 'Apposable Thumb' or 'Search for my Tongue'.  You should write in formal register and divide into 4 paragraphs: a brief introduction, a paragraph about structure and poetic techniques, a paragraph about meaning, a brief conclusion which may include a personal comment. This is to be typed and handed in either at the lesson of 25th Oct. or at the lesson on 8th November.

2. Reread 'Pi-dog' by Kolatkar (see missing section 7 attached as file below) and finish looking at the question sheet.

3 Read all three poems by Imtiaz Dharker and look at her work on internet. Choose one poem that you particularly like by this poet and explain why you find it interesting.

Assignment for 22nd November 

Read pp 45-60 in your booklets.

Assignment for 29th November

Answer  the questions on the poem 'Mango Seedling' on the photocopy given in class.

Read 'Hurrah for Thunder' by Chris Okigbo (photocopy given in class).