What is a poem – a story, an idea, a set of sounds, a catalog of images? What does a poem do, and what do you do with one? 20th Century Poetry introduces students to the fundamental elements of poetry (meter, rhyme, metaphor, image, form) as well as key poets and movements throughout the century. Students read, analyze, discuss, and develop theories about particular poems and poetry over the semester. In addition, students write some exercises and a few poems in order to engage with the techniques under analysis more closely.