Topic 1: Relying on the tenets of Romanticism we discussed in class (which are still posted on Blackboard) as well as the poems we read (and others we did not read if you wish to use them) analyze either Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman as a Romantic poet.
Topic 2: The conflict in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 – a recent defining moment on race in America – grew out of a controversy surrounding a statue of General Robert E. Lee. Six decades ago, in 1959, Robert Lowell wrote “For the Union Dead,” a poem that considers a similar concern: the relevance of a statue of Colonel Robert Shaw. Analyze the way Lowell addresses monuments and their unique place in American culture.
Topic 3: One of the historic developments in twentieth century literature in the United States was the emergence of the African-American voice. The Harlem Renaissance featured such authors as Langston Hughes, and subsequent authors like Gwendolyn Brooks and Tracy K. Smith were affected by the movement. Select one or more of these three poets and analyze the way he or she addressed the Black Experience in America.
Topic 4: When Lewis Allen (pseudonym for Abel Meeropol) put his poem “Strange Fruit” to music, Billie Holiday recorded it in 1939 and performed it until her death 20 years later. Subsequently, numerous artists have recorded the song as well. Explain why in 2011 did Time magazine name it one of the 100 Greatest Popular Songs? Consider various elements of the poem/song like style, imagery, and content.
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