Celtic poetry workshop
Two weeks of intense dabbling with Celtic poetry.
This class should give you a better appreciation of early Celtic poetry, plus tools and ideas for writing poetry.
This class should give you a better appreciation of early Celtic poetry, plus tools and ideas for writing poetry.
What if you don’t speak any Celtic languages?
The question I’m asked most often about this work is what value it has to those who don’t speak the languages of the original poems. My answer is that it absolutely still has value. Poets who speak these languages have considered it worthwhile to translate their native poetry, and sometimes their own poetry, into English – giving us a window into the soul of that poetry. At the same time, by studying the techniques used by the original poets, we can find much to apply to our own writing.
This will not be an extremely scholarly or comprehensive look at either the history of Celtic bards or their poetic forms – although we will touch on these things frequently.
This workshop is for anyone who already loves old poetry from Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and would like to find creative and technical inspiration within it to improve, or begin to create, their own poetry. The class is open to experienced poets and complete novices, and will include a number of short, fun, writing assignments. Expect to be stretched and challenged – but NOT put on the spot!
I will discuss and give examples of poetic techniques. There will be a couple of poetry-writing assignments given in each session. These will be aimed at writing just a few lines, rather than creating ‘finished products’.
The question I’m asked most often about this work is what value it has to those who don’t speak the languages of the original poems. My answer is that it absolutely still has value. Poets who speak these languages have considered it worthwhile to translate their native poetry, and sometimes their own poetry, into English – giving us a window into the soul of that poetry. At the same time, by studying the techniques used by the original poets, we can find much to apply to our own writing.
This will not be an extremely scholarly or comprehensive look at either the history of Celtic bards or their poetic forms – although we will touch on these things frequently.
This workshop is for anyone who already loves old poetry from Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and would like to find creative and technical inspiration within it to improve, or begin to create, their own poetry. The class is open to experienced poets and complete novices, and will include a number of short, fun, writing assignments. Expect to be stretched and challenged – but NOT put on the spot!
I will discuss and give examples of poetic techniques. There will be a couple of poetry-writing assignments given in each session. These will be aimed at writing just a few lines, rather than creating ‘finished products’.
The ‘outline’ below is still at the brainstorm stage, but what we’ll cover will look something like this:
Stories of Celtic poets
Who were the early Celtic poets?
What are their stories?
The carrying stream
the value of memorisation
What’s so great about old Celtic poetry?
continuous stream of tradition
form and discipline
alliteration, assonance, and rhyme
brevity
How much of this is accessible to those who don’t speak the languages?
Is poetry in translation any good?
the value of hearing the original (even if you don’t really understand it)
What lessons can we, as modern poets, learn from early Celtic poetry?
imposing form encourages discipline
the power of pattern
using our voices
finding awen
Stories of Celtic poets
Who were the early Celtic poets?
What are their stories?
The carrying stream
the value of memorisation
What’s so great about old Celtic poetry?
continuous stream of tradition
form and discipline
alliteration, assonance, and rhyme
brevity
How much of this is accessible to those who don’t speak the languages?
Is poetry in translation any good?
the value of hearing the original (even if you don’t really understand it)
What lessons can we, as modern poets, learn from early Celtic poetry?
imposing form encourages discipline
the power of pattern
using our voices
finding awen
Rather than have this class take up half your summer, I've decided to schedule five sessions over a two week period. This class will meet on Thursdays and Saturdays at 5 pm Pacific/8 pm Eastern time.
Schedule: Cost:
Thursday 22 June Saturday 24 June $70US/55 *Patreon patrons
Thursday 29 June Saturday 1 July
Thursday 6 July
Thursday 22 June Saturday 24 June $70US/55 *Patreon patrons
Thursday 29 June Saturday 1 July
Thursday 6 July
|
*You must be a patron at the time of registration, and throughout the period of the class, to claim the patron discount.
|
You are encouraged to attend the live classes, but recordings can be accessed on request, if you miss a class.
