10 Centuries of Poetry - West Bridgford Library - Adult Learning

This course offers a comprehensive journey through the evolution of English poetry, guiding learners through distinct literary eras and the iconic figures who shaped them. You will begin by exploring the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval periods from the 10th to the 15th centuries, examining foundational texts such as Beowulf and The Seafarer, alongside the pioneering works of Geoffrey Chaucer and The Gawain Poet.

Moving into the 16th to 18th centuries, the course delves into the masterful verses of Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare, John Donne, and John Milton, before transitioning into the sharp wit of Alexander Pope and the visionary works of William Blake. You will then be immersed in the 18th and 19th centuries, exploring the profound, emotion-driven poetry of Romantic and Victorian writers including William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, John Keats, and Christina Rossetti. Finally, the curriculum navigates the complex and transformative landscapes of the 20th century, where you will study the Modernist and contemporary voices of Edward Thomas, T. S. Eliot, W. H. Auden, Dylan Thomas, Ted Hughes, and Carol Ann Duffy.

By the end of the course learners will be able to:

• Outline the historical arc of English poetry: Identify and describe the key literary periods, movements, and major poets spanning from the 10th to the 20th centuries.

• Analyse thematic development: Discuss and explain how poets across different eras have utilized form and language to explore a diverse range of human experiences, emotions, and complex themes.

• Evaluate cultural context: Articulate how specific texts and shifting literary styles reflect, challenge, and shape evolving concepts of national identity over time.

• Demonstrate independent critical reading skills: Confidently select, read, and interpret unfamiliar works within the English poetic canon using the analytical techniques developed during the sessions.

Funding and Fees

If you receive certain benefits, you may be able to take the course for free.
If money is stopping you from enrolling, please visit our funding page to see what help is available.

Living in England

To book and join one of our courses, you must live in England permanently and either:

• Live outside the devolved areas listed below, or

Live inside the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) area (Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire).

You cannot enrol if you live in these devolved areas:

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

• North East Combined Authority

• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

• Tees Valley Combined Authority

• West Midlands Combined Authority

• West of England Combined Authority

• West Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

• York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Hull and East Yorkshire

• Greater Lincolnshire

• Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority

• Cornwall Council

• Lancashire Combined County Authority

• Buckinghamshire Council

Residency Requirements (Additional Information)

If you live in the UK on a visa, we’ll need evidence of your visa to confirm funding. You can upload this when applying, and you’ll need to complete a short questionnaire.

Some exceptions include:

• Your visa must last until after your course ends.

• Asylum seekers must have lived in the UK for at least 6 months while their claim is being processed.

• You are supported by your local authority under Section 23C or 23CA of the Children Act 1989, or under the Care Act 2014.

Anyone who does not meet the funding criteria would need to pay full course fees.