Language in Poetry from Africa and South Asia  

Dott.ssa Sainsbury

NEXT OFFICE HOURS(by appointment) Room 24 Thurs 14th Feb 11am, Mon. 25th Feb 1pm. Fri 1st March 1pm 

Fridays 15-17 Room 10 vSR

Office Hours  Friday 11-13 Room 24 vSR

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.

For Friday 26th October please read the poems by Imtiaz Dharker in your booklet and find another poem by the same author on internet that you like. Be prepared to say something briefly about the poem you find most interesting.

WRITTEN HOMEWORK TO BE UPLOADED ON COMPILATIO (https://www.compilatio.net/cartella/ejpv5) AND HANDED IN, TYPED ON A4 PAPER, AT THE LESSON ON FRIDAY 26th OCTOBER.  

Choose one of the three poems in your booklet ('The Opposable Thumb', 'The Patriot' or 'Search for my Tongue') and write a short text about the poem. This text should be in formal register (no contractions), approximately  500 words and should include 4 clearly organised paragraphs, as shown below. When giving examples always indicate the line number.  :

Paragraph 1. a brief introduction to present the poet and poem

Paragraph 2.  comment of the structure, poetic devices and language used in the poem 

Paragraph 3.  comment on the subject of the poem and the intentions of the poet 

Paragraph 4   a brief conclusion in which you may briefly give your own response to the poem

N.B. This text should be based on your own analysis of the poem ans should not include material from internet.  If you use any sources they must be cited.

I would like to thank the whole class for very active participation on this course, stimulating discussion and excellent marks overall. Well done! Have a very good Christmas break and a happy new year. I hope to see some of you in the second semester.

Prof. Louise Williams has kindly recorded the piece that she wrote for our public reading in December and was too late to read for us.