Poetry Inspired by Art
In this unit, we explore ekphrasis—writing inspired by art. Poets have used art as inspiration for centuries. John Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is one famous example, but even ancient poets such as Homer turned to artwork as a source of stimulation for their writing. Students begin by reading and discussing several poems inspired by works of art. Through the discussion, we inquire into ways in which poets can...