6 weeks                                                                       60-minute sessions
Women in Poetry - A Herstorical Timeline is a course that explores the rich history of women's poetry from different time periods. Participants will follow a chronological timeline of women poets, discussing their works, the historical context in which they were written, and the impact of these poets on the literary world. The course will analyze themes, styles, and trends in women's poetry throughout history.
 
📜 Course Title:
Women in Poetry: A Herstorical Timeline
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Session Duration: 60 minutes
Style: Discussion-based with close reading, group analysis, and reflective writing
Goal: To explore and appreciate the contributions of women poets across history, analyzing their styles, themes, and impact on literature and society.
 
📅 Weekly Themes & Learning Outcomes
 
🌿 Week 1: “Founding Voices: Pre-20th Century Pioneers”
Poets: Anne Bradstreet, Phillis Wheatley, Emily Dickinson, Christina Rossetti
🔹 Understand the barriers early women poets faced
🔹 Analyze poetic forms and subtle rebellion in language
🔹 Explore the emergence of the female voice in traditional structures
 
🎓 Week 2: “Breaking Ground: Early 20th Century Rebels”
Poets: Edna St. Vincent Millay, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Gertrude Stein
🔹 Examine themes of identity, independence, and modernism
🔹 Discuss poetry as activism and experimentation
🔹 Analyze how women challenged literary expectations
 
🖋️ Week 3: “The Personal is Political: Mid-Century Poets”
Poets: Sylvia Plath, Gwendolyn Brooks, Adrienne Rich, Lucille Clifton
🔹 Analyze themes of motherhood, mental health, and womanhood
🔹 Connect poetry to civil rights and second-wave feminism
🔹 Reflect on the vulnerability and power in confessional writing
 
🔥 Week 4: “Resistance & Revolution: Late 20th Century Voices”
Poets: Audre Lorde, Joy Harjo, Lorna Goodison, Maya Angelou
🔹 Study poetry as a tool for cultural memory and resistance
🔹 Explore intersectionality in race, gender, and identity
🔹 Respond creatively to themes of justice, language, and belonging
 
🌎 Week 5: “Contemporary Women Poets”
Poets: Warsan Shire, Tracy K. Smith, Ada Limón, Safia Elhillo
🔹 Explore diasporic voices, heritage, and global feminism
🔹 Analyze poetic innovation and hybrid forms
🔹 Discuss voice and visibility in the digital poetry age
 
💫 Week 6: “Echoes and Evolution: Your Poetic Response”
🔹 Reflect on how women’s poetry has evolved
🔹 Write and share original poetry inspired by a chosen poet or theme
🔹 Celebrate a diverse herstory of poetry and personal connection