230171 Poems Aloud: Reading and Speaking British and Irish Poetry (S) (SoSe 2026)

Poems are physical experiences. They are language that should involve the whole body. Magic language, spells and prayers often come in rhythmic, alliterative forms ("Avada Kedavra!", and why isn't it "Eveedy Kedeevry"?). Before children learn to appreciate stories, they enjoy sound and rhythm:

"Hickory dickory dock (Gently bounce baby to the beat)
The mouse ran up the clock (run your fingers from your baby's toes to their chin)
The clock struck one (clap once)
The mouse ran down (run your fingers down to your baby's toes)
Hickory dickory dock."

In this class, we will read and speak poems from different literary periods, in a little survey of British and Irish poetry, with a couple of Americans thrown in. Academic analysis and interpretation is our aim (metaphor, metonymy, all that), but we will also try to *experience* poems on a more visceral, emotional and instinctive level:
"Poetry is not “hard,” as students occasionally claim. Horace, Milton, Shakespeare, and Shelley did not set out to write enigma codes to be deciphered by scholars. They composed beautiful verse meant to live beautifully on the human voice. To recite poetry is to discover (as students) or rediscover (as educators) the ability of poets to speak down through the generations, using us as mouthpieces." https://www.educationnext.org/why-poetry-should-be-read-aloud-in-english-classes/

In order to successfully take part in this class, you need to be prepared to raise your voice to speak poems aloud. No acting abilities are required!

Requirements for participation, required level

Students in the FsB 2022 ("new BA") have to have passed both parts of the LPT to be allowed to take part in profile module classes.

Bibliography

Will be announced in class.