Chevron Left
Back to Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”)

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”) by University of Pennsylvania

4.8
stars
608 ratings

About the Course

ModPo is a FREE (no fee, no charge) fast-paced introduction to modern and contemporary U.S. poetry, with an emphasis on experimental verse, from Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman to the present. Participants (who need no prior experience with poetry) will learn how to read poems that are supposedly "difficult." We encounter and discuss the poems one at a time. It's much easier than it seems! Join us and try it! ModPo is open all year, so you can enroll now, or any time, and join us. Each year we host a lively, interactive 10-week session, in which we move together through the ten-week syllabus. The next live 10-week session of ModPo will begin on September 1, 2024, and will conclude on November 11, 2024. Al Filreis will be in touch with you by email before the September 1 start of the course with all the information you'll need to participate. If you have questions, you can email the ModPo team any time at modpo@writing.upenn.edu. Much more information about ModPo can be found at modpo.org. 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. Our famed TAs also offer office hours throughout the week. We help arrange meet-ups and in-site study groups. If you are curious about the ModPo team, type "ModPo YouTube introduction" into Google or your favorite search engine, and watch the 20-minute introductory video. You will get an overview of the course and will meet the brilliant TAs, who will be encountering the poems with you all the way to the end. If you use Facebook, join the always-thriving ModPo group: from inside Facebook, search for "Modern & Contemporary American Poetry" and then request to be added as a member. If you have any questions about ModPo, you can post a question to the FB group and you'll receive an almost instant reply. Much more information about ModPo can be found at modpo.org . We tweet all year long at @ModPoPenn and you can also find ModPo colleagues using the hashtag #ModPoLive. ModPo is hosted by—and is housed at—the Kelly Writers House at 3805 Locust Walk on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia USA. All ModPo'ers are welcome to visit the Writers House when they are in our area. Our discussions are filmed there. Our live webcasts take place in the famed "Arts Cafe" of the House. To find out what's going on at the Writers House any time, just dial 215-746-POEM....

Top reviews

MM

Nov 14, 2022

This was a wonderful course. I learned more about stylistic devices, close readings of poems, and was introduced to some very fine poet's!

JW

Dec 4, 2022

This is a great course. The course is very interactive with great discussions and unique insights.

John

John Wang, PhD CRE MBB

Filter by:

226 - 229 of 229 Reviews for Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”)

By Robin L

•

Nov 4, 2024

A well-organized and somewhat enjoyable class. However, at my advanced age, I would rather spend time with Eliot, Stevens, Ransom, Lowell, Berryman, Bishop, Kumin, Kenyon, Nemerov, et al. than with many of the contemporary poets featured in the syllabus, whose work seems more about wordplay & cryptology than a transformative blending of sound & sense.

By GARGI C

•

Nov 26, 2020

I am Gargi Choudhury. I have taken this course and I would like to share my expeeience with the world. I would anyone who wants to impove their thought process in english literature should take this course. It was quiet helpful for me.

By Christos V

•

Jan 18, 2017

Al Filreis is an excellent instructor and very charismatic, unfortunately the poetry taught consists of only one worldview: secular humanist. Its too bad, otherwise I would offer 5 stars.

By Natalie M

•

Mar 14, 2024

Tedious! Lots of busy work and no certificate.