Poetry -- History and criticism

A Basic Poetics class taught by Allen Ginsberg in 1980 at Naropa. The majority of the class is spent reading and discussing the work of the poets John Suckling and Andrew Marvell. The work of Anne Bradstreet, Abraham Cowley, Richard Crawshaw, Thomas Carew, and Richard Lovelace is also discussed.

A Basic Poetics class taught by Allen Ginsberg in 1980 at Naropa. Ginsberg reads from his book "The Gates of Wrath" to demonstrate to his students certain forms of English meter as employed in his own work.

A Basic Poetics class taught by Allen Ginsberg in 1980 at Naropa. Ginsberg begins the class by speaking about the heroic couplet form. Ginsberg then segues into reading and discussing the poetry of John Dryden, Simon Wastell, Thomas Vaughn, Thomas Traherne, Edward Taylor, and The Earl Of Rochester.

A Basic Poetics class taught by Allen Ginsberg in 1980 at Naropa. For the duration of the class, Ginsberg discusses Sapphic meter using various poems to demonstrate the ancient form.

A Basic Poetics class taught by Allen Ginsberg in 1980 at Naropa. Ginsberg begins the class by discussing Sapphic meter in Ancient Greek poetry. He then moves on to read various poets' take on the Greek form. Ginsberg ends the class with the students sharing their own sapphic poems.

A Basic Poetics class taught by Allen Ginsberg in 1980 at Naropa. Ginsberg spends the class reading and discussing the work of various poets throughout the ages who have dealt with the Sapphic form, from the ancient Greeks to Ezra Pound. Included are a number of different translations of works by Catullus. Ginsberg also plays recordings of Ed Sanders reciting poems by Sappho and Blake.

A Basic Poetics class taught by Allen Ginsberg in 1980 at Naropa. Ginsberg begins the class by singing poems by Sappho and songs by William Blake and Isaac Watts accompanied by harmonium. The rest of the class is devoted to Christopher Smart's poetry, specifically "Rejoice In The Lamb" and "Jubilate Agno."

A Basic Poetics class taught by Allen Ginsberg in 1980 at Naropa. Ginsberg spends the majority of the class fielding questions from the class and discussing the practice of writing with regards to his own work and the work of his peers. Ginsberg ends the class by singing sections of Blake's "The Songs of Innocence" and "The Songs of Experience."

The first tape in a nine tape series covering a class taught by Pat Donegan. The class addresses Asian poetry and the principles and background that influence it. She reads from various authors as examples as well as asking the class to write and share their own work.

The second tape in a nine tape series of a class by Pat Donegan on the Imagists and East Asian poets. The class involves Pat Donegan giving background on Asian poetry and their relation to the Imagists as well as actual writing and readings of work by students using models and concepts discussed.