Led by Harvard Professor Elisa New, this free, not-for-credit online Poetry in America series offered through HarvardX surveys nearly 400 years of American poetry. Through video lectures, archival images and texts, expeditions to historic sites, interpretive seminars with large and small groups, interviews with poets and scholars, and conversations about poems with distinguished Americans, Poetry in America takes learners on a journey through the literature of a nation. Along the way, distinguished guests–including Elena Kagan, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Eve Ensler, John McCain, Andrea Mitchell, Michael Pollan, Drew Faust, Tony Kushner, Billy Collins, and Nas, among others–bring fresh perspectives to the study of American poetry.
Course Modules:
HarvardX offers a rotating a selection of Poetry in America modules. Click here to see which courses are currently available from HarvardX.
Common Sense Media, in partnership with Amplify Education and other education, media, and tech partners, launched Wide Open School, a free online resource to support families and educators who are transitioning to remote learning as a result of the coronavirus. Poetry in America is proud to be a part of this important initiative. Click here to visit Wide Open School’s website.
The Poetry in America PBS LearningMedia collection features 12 lessons based on the Season One episodes of the Poetry in America public television series. PBS LearningMedia content is available to teachers and students at no cost! You can ask students to watch the short episode excerpts we’ve made available on PBS LearningMedia, or you can stream or purchase the full episodes for use in class (click here for more information about our TV series). You can access the Poetry in America PBS LearningMedia collection here.