On Tuesday 2/12 there are no classes scheduled (PDF!) for Lincoln’s Birthday.
For Thursday 2/14, (happy Valentine’s Day!) we continue with Pedro Pietri…
Continue Pedro Pietri’s poetry from the book Puerto Rican Obituary from the same PDF on the Readings page as last week. (Re?)Read “Puerto Rican Obituary” and “The Broken English Dream”. Also read “Suicide Note from a Cockroach”, “Love Poem for My People”, “Unemployed” and “OD”.
Now that we’ve covered some of Pietri’s life, think about how points from his personal outlook on religion, death, and the ambivalence toward the American Dream are reflected in the poems. Again, look for specific points that reveal how he approaches the subjects and make a note of them.
Think of the following questions as you read:
- How does Pietri’s writing define the urban experience for the people he’s writing about?
- What type of urban environment does he describe?
- What language does he use and how does that reflect the urban situation?
- Do you see any of the points Pietri makes in the interview reflected in the writing? Make note of a few examples.
- Look for an update early next week for the following reading assignment, though note that we’ll be moving on to Piñero’s Outlaw, so be sure to get a copy.
Announcements:
- If you missed class on Thursday 2/7, email me to choose a date for a group presentation.
- Look for an update next week for the following reading assignment, though note that we’ll be moving on to Piñero’s Outlaw, so be sure to get a copy.
Recap from this week’s classes:
- Finished the Juan Flores essay (See the Readings page for a PDF)
- Skimmed Pedro Pietri’s interview (PDF also on the Readings page) and made connections to Pietri’s poetry
- Started Puerto Rican Obituary (PDF also on the Readings page)
- Signed up for group presentation dates
Contemporary Urban Writers 