Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH The Hatred of Poetry
School	Eng, Drama, & Creative Studies
Department	Film and Creative Writing
Module Code	09 29730
Module Lead	Luke Kennard
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	Students registered to the BA English programme must have taken the Creative Writing pathway modules available at both Level C and Level I
Contact Hours	Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-180 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Is poetry still possible? This module examines the contemporary poetry scene in the UK and the US, with the intention of developing your own poetic practice accordingly. Themes will include contemporary surrealism/absurdism; the new confessional; anti-poetry; humour and satire; self-consciousness; and transatlantic influence. Each week we will look at a single-author collection published in the 21st century as well as workshopping new poems in response to techniques and issues encountered.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate a clear understanding of the divergent and rival traditions within contemporary poetry, identifying and placing their own work within that context. Consider the work of an individual poet encountered on the module and apply their techniques both critically and creatively. Explain the scale and range of contemporary poetic practice with reference to literary criticism, book reviews and a selection of key poetry journals. Create a portfolio of distinctive new work which responds to (or subverts) current poetic orthodoxies.
Assessment	29730-01 : Portfolio : Coursework (75%) 29730-02 : Essay : Coursework (25%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: A creative portfolio of 150 lines of poetry (75%) supported by a 1,500 (25%) word analysis of one of the poets on the module syllabus. Reassessment: A creative portfolio of 150 (75%) lines of poetry supported by a 1,500 word analysis (25%) of one of the poets on the module syllabus. Extenuating circumstances only
Other
Reading List