William Wordsworth: Poetry, People and Place
Explore the influence of the Lake District on Wordsworth with this free online course, filmed at his home, Dove Cottage, Grasmere.
Who is the course for?
This course is open to anyone with an interest in poetry, place and the process of writing.
If you haven’t read Wordsworth before, the course will give you an enjoyable introduction to one of the best-loved poets in English literature.
If you’re already familiar with his poetry, your understanding will be enhanced through this unique opportunity to study it where it was written.
What topics will you cover?
William Wordsworth’s life and work and the archive of his manuscripts at the Jerwood Centre, Grasmere
Manuscript materials as evidence of how Wordsworth created his poetry
The importance of a sense of place in Wordsworth’s writing
Wordsworth’s conception of the role of ‘Nature’, especially as expressed in ‘The Tables Turned’, The Prelude, ‘Michael’ and ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’
The significance of Lyrical Ballads and the volume’s key principles
Wordsworth’s ideas about education and his concept of ‘spots of time’
Ideas of home and community and their relationship to creativity
The relationship between different forms of writing, especially letters, journals and poetry
Dorothy Wordsworth’s journals and their relationship to her brother’s poetry
