Poetry is about so much more than the words on the page. The structure of a line, the length of a stanza, and even the amount of white space, can reveal just as much - if not more - about the themes and content than the ink itself. As someone who enjoys dabbling in poetry for personal enjoyment, or someone with an academic interest in poetic form, how you approach poetic form can unlock a previously hidden world of secrets and potential.
Looking in more detail at poetic form, this weekend masterclass with award-winning poet Sinéad Morrissey will blend the fundamentals of poetry-writing with a deep-dive into the specifics of form, so that you can more confidently play with and analyse poetry.
Over two intensive and extraordinarily insightful days, she will introduce you to the concept of form, touching on the role of restriction in creativity, to then guide you through the three foundational building blocks of poems: the line, the stanza and the white space. You will also spend some time getting to know a particular form with greater depth, and will really sink your teeth into the both the structural and creative elements that comprise the chosen form.
Throughout the weekend workshop you will be under Sinéad’s expert guidance, and with her you will also have the opportunity to share and investigate any related issues you find you have when writing or reading poetry - from inspiration to originality, from voice to concept.
This in-depth masterclass is suitable for beginner to intermediate poets with a desire to build up confidence in their voice and creative process, as well as anyone looking for a creative jumpstart to their own writing, and those with a keen interest in learning more about poetic form to help enrich their reading experience. Intensive yet gentle and creative, this workshop will tease your appetite for taking what you learn about poetry to the next level.
Course content
Introduction to poetic form
The role of restriction in creativity
The fundamental building blocks of form - the line, the stanza and white space
In-depth analysis of form - the sonnet
Q&A
This course is for…
Beginner to intermediate poets who want to build confidence in their voice and creative process
Anyone interested in learning more about poetic form to help enrich their experience in engaging with poetry
Anyone looking for a creative jumpstart to their own writing
You will be sent a link to the webinar 2hrs before the start time of 10am (BST).
Tutor Profile
Sinéad Morrissey is the author of six poetry collections and has won many awards for her work, including First Prize in the UK National Poetry Competition, the Irish Times Poetry Prize (2009, 2013) and the T S Eliot Prize (2013). Her most recent collection, On Balance, won the Forward Prize for Best Collection (2017) and the European Poet of Freedom Award (2020). A Selected Poems, Found Architecture, was published by Carcanet last year. She has served as Belfast Poet Laureate (2013-2014) and is currently Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University.
Details
Date: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 June 2021
Times: 10am-1pm (BST)
Price: £150 (plus booking fee)
Event capacity: 45
This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.
10am BST | 11am CEST | 2am PDT | 5am EDT
Information on Guardian Masterclasses
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
All Guardian Masterclasses are fully accessible – but please contact us if you have any queries or concerns.
Returns policy
Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
