The Great Poem Series: Unbinding Prometheus

This was a terrific class! I was a bit nervous when I first signed on, as I knew nothing about Percy Shelley or 19th Century Romantic poetry – but my fears were assuaged pretty quickly. Professor Weinstein provided a wealth of introductory and background material in the first modules that got me up and running. The class was challenging, no doubt about it, but not so academically esoteric that I felt out of place.

The students ranged from a high level Shelley scholar to people like me with -0- background, and I have to say that I felt I really got to know a lot of the other students via the discussion forums. It did not feel like a “distance learning” experience; it felt up close and personal. Professor Weinstein was in the discussion forums often, responding to comments and adding “likes”. I got the feeling he read every comment that was posted. This is not a MOOC with a detached professor. He was right there in the trenches.

Professor Weinstein’s passion and enthusiasm for "Prometheus Unbound" shined through and perked me up even on days when I was feeling overwhelmed with other commitments. His syllabus was quite imaginative and far-reaching, including – as adjuncts to the in-depth investigation of "Prometheus Unbound" - a Pinter play, a Wallace Stevens poem, a William Burroughs excerpt, discussions about political dissent, heroism, social justice and more. All of this worked for me, because once I became immersed in "Prometheus Unbound" I began to see how its tentacles reach into the world I’m living in today, and how much of what Shelley was saying back in 1820 is relevant right now. I had no idea. Not to mention that it is beautiful poetry. Also, I have say that some of the imaginative exercises in this course are great for people who are not in the arts/humanities, because they require you to think outside the box, to really think creatively – something we could use more of in the business world and other fields.

All in all, a big thumbs up!!

Paula Matusa

This was a very unusual course in the sense that the subject matter would not be familiar to many folks. The Instructor has chosen one of the most challenging but rewarding poems in the English Language...maybe ANY language. The programme of study is extremely well thought out. Knowing full well that a lot of students would be approaching Shelley for the first time, Eric mapped out a very carefully layered introduction to the subject matter. A series of "Shelley in Context" modules that feature literally the who's who of Shelley studies provide an incredible backdrop to the study of this glorious poem.

Whether you are approaching this with a graduate background in the Romantic poets or because you just happen to like beautiful poetry you will find something for you. You will find your instructor to be fantastically welcoming, solicitous, caring and knowledgeable. he is one of those rare educators who can communicate an intensity of passion for the subject that is infectious.

I took this course the first time it was offered, those of you joining in the Winter of 2016 will have the benefit of going through the second time around. I know that Eric is brimming with ideas to make this already great course even better.

If I had a piece of advice to offer, I would suggest you grab one of the two brilliant Shelley biographies that are readily available. Holmes' "Shelley, The Pursuit" dates from the 70's and there is the more recent biography by Bieri. Both are immensely readable. I think having a grip on some facts about Shelley's life would really stand you in good stead.

I suggested the difficulty level was "Hard", but that is pretty much because I went at it pretty hard. It is one of those rare courses which you can drift through or dig deep and be equally rewarded. Hell, you will read some of the greatest poetry ever written!

Enjoy this wonderful course.

This course was so much fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations with classmates, the close-reading class videos, the provocative questions, the really amazing creative activities that Eric Weinstein set up for each section of the course--which made the subject matter even more meaningful--and the guest scholars appearing in video. Is studying Shelley relevant today? As someone who knew barely anything at all about Shelley starting this course, I would say absolutely. One of the great themes running throughout the course was exploring moments in the poem and discussing their relevance to our world today. It is a very rewarding endeavor. I learned so much beyond the poem itself: William Blake, Aeschylus and Ancient Greek tragedy, mythologies (Ancient Greek, but other realms as well) important moments in the history of Western science, the growth of political rights in Britain in the 19th century, Mary Shelley, the Romantics . . . I could keep listing but I think you should take the course and find out for yourself!