2. Understand the cultural-historical relationship between Caribbean society, communal and individual imperatives and poetic or dramatic expression

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1 ENGL 6410: Caribbean Poetry and Drama Dr. Loretta Collins January 2016 Office: #7 Pedreira Office Hours: Friday, 1-4 p.m. and by arrangement Office ext (not functioning at the moment) COURSE DESCRIPTION A detailed study of major works in these genres by Caribbean writers in English. Social and historical background will provide a frame for the discussion of the works. OBJECTIVES Students will be able to: 1. Comprehend fundamental aspects and aesthetic techniques of a variety of poetry and theatrical plays that address, from varying perspectives, the experiences, concerns and imaginings of those who have Caribbean connections 2. Understand the cultural-historical relationship between Caribbean society, communal and individual imperatives and poetic or dramatic expression 3. Apply knowledge of poetics and critical study of drama to the appreciation and interpretation of both major established, foundational poets and dramaturges and their emerging counterparts of the Caribbean and its Diasporas 4. Develop knowledge of the use of orality, the diction of the continuum of Caribbean Standard and Creole languages, embodied performance and the written word in Caribbean poetic and dramatic traditions

2 5. Examine various themes, literary and dramatic techniques using critical terminology in classroom discussions and in written book review assignments, and academic research paper assignments 6. Identify significant secondary criticism in the field and apply relevant theory to the analysis of poetry and drama 7. Acquire an inquisitive and thoughtful and appreciate attitude regarding the value of poetry and drama and the diversity of their forms, styles, modes and makers REQUIRED TEXTS **Other assigned readings will be placed on reserve Michael Gilkes, Two Plays: Couvade & a Pleasant Career (Peepal Tree Press, 2014) Edwin Sanchez, Trafficking in Broken Hearts (Broadway Play Pub., 2011). Patricia Cumper, Inner Yardie: Three Plays (Peepal Tree Press, 2014) Hannah Lowe, Chick (Bloodaxe Books, 2014) Colin Channer, Providential (Peepal Tree Press, 2015) Nicholas Laughlin, The Strange Years of my Life (Peepal Tree Press, 2015) Esther Philips, Leaving Atlantis (Peepal Tree Press, 2015) Martin Espada, Vivas to Those Who Have Failed (W.W. Norton & Co., 2016) Note: It is also expected that in preparation for the poetry portion of the course (before the dates of the poetry sessions) that you will read the major existing anthologies of Caribbean/ West Indian verse, as well as the book-length study of poetry by Breiner. These are available in the Lewis Richardson Seminar Room. See4 the schedule for March 11 th.

3 s on poetry during the second half of the semester: Each student will be assigned one critical text or one single-author poetry collection: Gordon Rohlehr, essay to be determined Lloyd Wellesley Brown, West Indian Poetry Denise de Caires Narain, Contemporary Caribbean Women s Poetry: Making Style Silvio Torres Salliant, Caribbean Poetics: Towards an Aesthetic of West Indian Literature Christian Habekost, Verbal Riddim: The Politics and Aesthetics of African Caribbean Dub Poetry Laurence A. Breiner, An Introduction to West Indian Poetry Kei Miller, The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion Derek Walcott, White Egrets Tanya Shirley, The Merchant of Feathers Vahni Capildeo, Utter Vladimir Lucien, Sounding Ground Andre Bagoo, Burn Lorna Goodison, Supplying Salt and Light Kwame Dawes, Coming Up Hot: Eight New Poets from the Caribbean Lourdes Vázquez, She Was So Naked Millicent Graham, The Way Home Willie Perdomo, The Essential Hits of Shorty Bon Bon

4 TEACHING STRATEGIES Class discussion, lecture, oral reports, the creation of a PB Wiki Site, research, writing, use of print and internet sources. RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY Students must have access to the internet, as all work will be submitted to a PB wiki site, and bibliographic sources and some readings will also be available on the site. METHODS OF EVALUATION Students will 1) weekly write brief one-page response papers that are critically informed by one researched article (20%); 2) present one oral report (15%); 3) at midterm write a brief book review of a recently published Caribbean poetry collection (25%); 4) write a final page paper of literary analysis of Caribbean poetry (40%). Total+100 pts. GRADING SYSTEM A, B, C, D, F Ley 51 Los estudiantes que reciban servicios de Rehabilitación Vocacional deben comunicarse con el (la) professor(a) al inicio del semestre para planificar el acomodo razonable y equipo asistivo necesario conforme a las recomendaciones de la Oficina de Asuntos para las Personas con impedimento (OAPI) del Decanato de Estudiantes. También aquellos estudiantes con necesidades especiales que requieren de algún tipos de asistencia o acomodo deben comunicarse con el (la) professor(a). ***Students who require an alternative grading procedure or assistance must speak with the professor at the beginning of the semester.

5 Reading Assignment Syllabus (subject to change) JAN 22: Course Introduction JAN 29 and FEB 5: Derek Walcott Reading Assignment: Derek Walcott, Malcochon, Or Six in the Rain; Dream on Monkey Mountain; The Sea at Dauphin; John Millington Synge, Riders to the Sea: Screening: Rashomon FEB 12: Tony Hall Reading Assignment: Tony Hall, Flag Woman; Jean and Dinah: Who Have Been Locked Away in a World Famous Calypso Since 1956 Speak Their Minds; Selection from Gordon Rohlehr on Calypso FEB 19: Marlene NourbeSe Philip Reading Assignment: Coups and Calypsos on the novel House of Ashes, by Monique Roffey (2014) FEB 26: Michael Gilkes Reading Assignment: Couvade; Selections on visual artists Aubrey Williams and Stanley Greaves MARCH 4: Pat Cumper; Edwin Sanchez Reading Assignment: Inner Yardie: Three Plays; Trafficking in Broken Hearts

6 MARCH 11: Poetry Anthologies, selections MARCH 18: Kamau Brathwaite, selections APRIL 1: Derek Walcott, selections; Lorna Goodison, selections APRIL 8: Esther Philips, Leaving Atlantis APRIL 15: Colin Channer, Providential APRIL 22: Nicholas Laughlin, The Strange Years of My Life APRIL 29: Hannah Lowe, Chick MAY 6: Martin Espada, Vivas to Those Who Have Failed; Victor Hernández Cruz, selections

7 FINAL EXAM PERIOD: Presentation of Research Projects BIBLIOGRAPHY Selected Poets of the Caribbean Kamau Brathwaite Derek Walccot Lorna Goodison Kwame Dawes Olive Senior Bob Marley Peter Tosh Opal Palmer Adisa Wille Perdomo Victor Hernández Cruz Ishion Hutchinson Millicent Graham Shivanee Ramlochan Tanya Shirley Edward Baugh Mervyn Morris Martin Carter

8 Ann-Margaret Lim Jean Binta Breeze Jacqueline Bishop Jennifer Rahim Martín Espada Una Marson Claude McKay Anson Gonzalez Malika Booker Lelawatee Manoo-Rahming Marion Bethel Geoffrey Philp Dionne Brand Claire Harris Kei Miller Kendell Hippolyte Lasana Sekou Jacob Sam-La Rose Sara McCallum Marilene Phipps Merle Collins Velma Pollard

9 Dennis Scoot Anthony McNeil Lasana Sekou Esther Philips Dorothea Smart Donna Weir-Soley Louise Bennet Bongo Jerry Lillian Allen Mutabaruka Linton Kwesi Johnson Benjamin Zephaniah Grace Nichols Pam Mordecai Cyril Dabydeen Wayne Brown Christina Craig Michael Smith ahdri zhina mandiela John Agard Andrew Salkey Shake Keane

10 George Campbell Eric Roach James Berry John Figueroa Evan Jones Rachel Manley Sanda María Esteves D bi Young Michelle Muir Marlene NourbeSe Philip Andre Bagoo Vladimir Lucien Background Information Anne Walmsley, The Caribbean Artists Movement, Kamau Brathwaite, History of the Voice Mervyn Morris, Is English We Speakin