Step into the world of nineteenth-century America with poetry titans Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, guided by Jeffrey Morgan, Ph.D. Discover their iconic works in a whole new light as Morgan brings their poetry to life through insightful analysis and captivating readings. Uncover hidden meanings and formal elements with close, line-by-line exploration that reveals why these writers are considered the foundation of modern American poetry. Experience both familiar classics and lesser-known gems that will soon feel like old friends. Projected texts and Morgan’s engaging presentations make each session an immersive journey into the minds of two literary giants. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see Whitman and Dickinson like never before!

 LECTURES:

1.  Whitman: Letter from Emerson; excerpts from Preface to Leaves of Grass; selections from Song of Myself, and When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer.

2.  Whitman: Beat, Beat, Drums!; When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd; O Captain! My Captain!; A Noiseless Patient Spider, and I Hear America Singing.

3.  Dickinson: This is my letter to the World; Tell all the truth but tell it slant; There is no Frigate like a book; I taste a liquor never brewed; Much Madness is divinest Sense; Success is counted Sweetest, and The Soul selects her own Society.

4.Dickinson: Hope is the thing with feathers; A Narrow Fellow in the Grass; It sifts from Leaden Sieves; Some keep the Sabbath going to Church; Faith is a fine invention; I heard a fly buzz; The Bustle in a House, and Because I could not stop for Death.

Dr. Jeff Morgan, recently retired after 42 years as an educator, is the author of four books—including The (Un)welcomed Stranger: Intercultural Sensitivity in Six American Novels—as well as numerous essays and poems. He earned his Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.

"I will take any course he teaches"- OLLI Patron