• Dr. Ken Weisner

ELIT 11 CLASS 1

DR. WEISNER HAD AN UNAVOIDABLE COMMITMENT

DR. WEISNER HAD AN UNAVOIDABLE COMMITMENT

ELIT 11: INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

• Spring, 2013/ Ken Weisner• M, T, W, Th 12:30-1:20 in SEM 2• #00608 ELIT 011.01 (Honors option: #42381 ELIT 11-

01H)• Office: Forum 2C• Office Hours, Spring, 2013: Mondays/Wednesdays 1:30-

2:30, Tuesday/Thursday 3:45-4:45• Office Phone:  (408) 864-5797• E Mail: weisnerken@fhda.edu and/or:

gyre@cruzio.com• Website: http://faculty.deanza.fhda.edu/weisnerken/

GREEN SHEEThttp://faculty.deanza.edu/weisnerken/

You can download and print the green sheet at this address. Please do so.

Grades: 90% = A, 80% = B, 70% = C, 60% = D  [possible 1000 points]Reader’s notebook (20 X 15 points each):   300Memorizing/ presenting a poem:                    100Midterm:  200Final: 200            Class participation and attendance:         200                                 1000Grading ScaleA= 920-1000 A- =900-919 B+ =880-899B= 820-879 B- =800-819 C+ =780-799C= 700-779 D =600-699 F =0-599

TEXTS & SUPPLIES:

•1. Gioia, D, and Kennedy, X.J., An Introduction to Poetry, 13th Edition.•2. Instructor will provide you with a course reader of collated handouts.•3. A notebook used for this course only.•4. Red Wheelbarrow Magazine, 2012 National Edition

This class is going to be so easy!

Is this class too hard?

Is this classHistory 10?

Will I be a famous poet someday?

Questions?

WHAT IS POETRY?

Poetry uses words to express thoughts and feelings. It can be found in just about every culture on earth. It differs from prose in several ways. Poems:look different sound different often use figurative language

There are many different kinds of poetry. Today, we are going to look at just one. The Haiku.

• It is a traditional form of Japanese poetry

• It describes nature, every day life, or the human condition

• It is based on personal reflection

• Its value is in sudden discovery or revelation

WHAT IS HAIKU?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ionushi/434663959/Attribution, Non Commercial, No Derivatives

• A Haiku traditionally has three lines with seventeen syllables:• Five --Three• Seven --Five• Five --Three

• This form is strict in Japanese• Sometimes it varies in other languages or in

translation. This is true in English. You may use fewer syllables.

WRITING HAIKU: FORM

• A haiku consists of two parts: The description and the reflection.

• Each part depends on the other for meaning.

• In Japanese Haiku, the break is marked by a “cutting word.” In English, the break is often marked by punctuation (e.g. colon, long dash, ellipsis)

• A haiku usually includes a kigo, a word that indicates a season. This does not have to be a traditional season like fall or winter. It could be baseball season or voting time; the reader just has to be able to determine when the event takes place.

WRITING HAIKU: STRUCTURE AND LANGUAGE

The moment two bubbles are united, they both vanish. A lotus blooms.

-Kijo Murakami (1865-1938)

Traditional Japanese Haiku

}Description

} Reflection

OLD POND . . .A FROG LEAPS INWATER'S SOUNDMATSUO BASHÔ

(1644-1694)

• Billboards . . .    wet        in spring            rain . . . Eric W. Amann

Sign says "no parking";it wasn't there yesterday;my favorite spot.  Paul Brown

• the nail box:every nailis bent

• Ozaki Hôsai(1885-1926)

pausinghalfway up the stair--white chrysanthemums Elizabeth Searle Lamb

IN PAIRS, IN GROUPS, OR ALONEGIVE WRITING A HAIKU A TRY

HOMEWORK

• Download and print the syllabus• Buy your materials:• 1. Gioia, D, and Kennedy, X.J., An Introduction to Poetry,

13th Edition.• 3. A notebook used for this course only.• 4. Red Wheelbarrow Magazine, 2012 National Edition

• Come to class Tuesday to hear Dr. Weisner’s explanation of the course!

HOMEWORK