Rewriting the Epic Poem: Derek Walcott's Omeros, the Epic Caribbean

Rewriting the Epic Poem: Derek Walcott's Omeros, the Epic Caribbean is a Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies class taught by Jeannette Lee.

This course satisfies Division I requirements.

Course Description
In literary studies, epics are typically long narrative poems on a grand scale. They focus on the deeds of warriors and heroes and embody the history and aspirations of a nation. Epics, therefore, are lofty and grandiose. However, in Walcott's Omeros, there are no warriors, heroes, or great battles. The three main characters are two fishermen who fight over the same woman, and the slave trade is re-traced. How then is this book length poem an epic narrative? In this course, we will consider how Walcott rewrites the Iliad and Odyssey to creolize the classic epic form. We will also examine what types of characters populate this literary work, how heroism is re-defined to account for ordinary Caribbean persons, what replaces battles and why, and how these choices are reflective of the Anglophone Caribbean. This class will also cover the kinds of poetic and aesthetic strategies used in Omeros. In reading this narrative, we will interrogate how Walcott appropriates the western epic form so that it is responsive to the kinds of questions that populate the post-independent Caribbean. Besides Omeros, we will also read supplemental material. This course is designed for students studying literature, fiction writing & poetry, Caribbean studies, and black studies.

Learning Goals

 * Reading
 * Writing
 * Presenting
 * Multi-Cultural