Poetry Courses and Certifications

Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”)

189 reviews

During the 10 weeks of the course, you will be guided through poems, video discussions of each poem, and community discussions of each poem. And (unique among open online courses) we offer weekly, interactive live webcasts.

• Coursera
• 3 days 14 hours 32 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

• Best of All Time

Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop

19 reviews

Why just write poems when you can write better ones? This course is built on the notion that the most exciting writing begins after the first draft.

• Coursera
• 8-9 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

The Great Poem Series: Unbinding Prometheus

19 reviews

Explore Percy Shelley's "Prometheus Unbound" through lectures, discussions, and collaborative readings. Engage with scholars, poets, and fellow learners to unravel this lyrical drama's complexities.

• OpenLearning
• 8 weeks
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

Poetry in America: The Civil War and Its Aftermath

1 review

Explore the poetry of the Civil War and its aftermath.

• edX
• 4 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Poetry in America: Whitman

1 review

This module, the third installment of the multi-part _Poetry in America _series, focuses on the poetry of Walt Whitman, a quintessentially American writer whose work continues to bear heavily upon the American poetic tradition.

• edX
• 4 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Poetry in America: Modernism

1 review

Reading works by Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, Marianne Moore, William Carlos Williams, and Wallace Stevens, among others, learn how American Modernist poetry departed from past traditions and past forms.

• edX
• 8 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

In Extremis - Poetry, Subversion and Violence

Dynamic conversation exploring poetry's extremes, innovation, and violence. Poets discuss subversion, aggression, and revolutionary aspects in contemporary poetry, examining creative decisions and international perspectives.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 16 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

T.S. Eliot's Auditory Imagination - Christopher Ricks Lecture

Explore T.S. Eliot's auditory imagination with Christopher Ricks, delving into editorial insights from Eliot's recordings and examining the nuances of sound, pronunciation, and poetic effects in his works.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 28 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Robert Pinsky Poetry Reading - Selected Poems and New Works

Former U.S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky shares selected and new poems, offering insights into his creative process and exploring themes of culture, language, and human experience.

• YouTube
• 55 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

The Arcadia Project - Postmodern Pastoral Poetry Reading

Diverse poets read from "THE ARCADIA PROJECT," a compilation exploring postmodern pastoral themes. Features Timothy Donnelly, C.D. Wright, Gabriel Gudding, Dana Levin, John Beer, and Dan Beachy-Quick.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 18 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

The Gorgeous Nothings: Emily Dickinson's Envelope-Poems

Explore Emily Dickinson's envelope-poems through text and images, examining the envelope as a radical space for literary expression and transmission.

• YouTube
• 55 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Boston Originals - Poetry Readings by Bouchard, Colby, Lepson and Garcia Roberts

Immerse in Boston's poetic landscape with readings by Bouchard, Colby, Lepson, and Garcia Roberts, showcasing diverse voices and contemporary works from the region's vibrant literary scene.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 5 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

A Political Poetry: Reading and Conversation with Solmaz Sharif

Explore political poetry with Solmaz Sharif as she reads selected works and engages in a thought-provoking discussion on language, form, and the role of poets in addressing societal issues.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 14 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

The Difficult Miracle: The Living Legacy of June Jordan

Scholars, poets, and activists explore June Jordan's multifaceted work, discussing her poetry, activism, and lasting impact on literature and social justice in this panel celebrating her legacy at Harvard's Radcliffe Institute.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 23 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Modern American Poetry

100 ratings at Coursera

Explore diverse American poetry through expert analyses, covering major poets and movements from Whitman to Hughes. Gain historical context and close readings, enriched by multimedia illustrations and readings.

• Coursera
• 1 day 10 hours 11 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)