Back to selection
76504-01 - Proseminar: The Poetry of Poe (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Ridvan Askin (ridvan.askin@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Best known for his gothic tales and as the progenitor of modern detective fiction, Edgar Allan Poe primarily perceived himself as a poet. He also repeatedly intervened in the debates on poetics at his time: Among other things, he denied the possibility of long-form poetry and notoriously quipped that “the death […] of a beautiful woman is […] the most poetical topic in the world.” Often called out and belittled for what is perceived as its misogynist poetics, its cliché-laden imagery, and its conventional verse, Poe’s poetry has also been repeatedly championed by luminaries such as, for example, Charles Baudelaire and William Carlos Williams. The latter even called Poe the proper beginning of America poetry. This course will be devoted to the close reading and critical appraisal of Poe’s poetry and poetics. |
| Learning objectives | Students who take this course will become intimately acquainted with the poetic oeuvre of one of the most canonical nineteenth-century US authors; they will hone their skills in the close analysis of poetry; and they will be introduced to mid-nineteenth-century ideas about and discussions on the nature, function, and value of poetry. |
| Bibliography | All texts will be made available on ADAM. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | It is strongly recommended that this course is taken only after the successful completion of the “Introduction I: Literary Studies” and “Introduction II: Literary Theory” proseminars. |
| Course application | To register for this course, please email Ridvan Askin at ridvan.askin@unibas.ch. Note that the course can accommodate a maximum of 25 students. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 16.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 23.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 30.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 07.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 14.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 21.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 28.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 04.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 11.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 18.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 25.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 02.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 09.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 16.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Modules |
Modul: Introduction to Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Active participation (doing ALL the readings and contributing to in-class discussions); two in-class writing assignments. Both assignments will consist in the close reading of one of Poe’s poems. These poems will not have been previously discussed in class. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |