Literature as Therapy: The Poetry of Rilke

Undergraduate / Graduate

Lady Gaga has a Rilke quote tattooed on her arm; Jimin of the band BTS showed off a temporary tattoo of a Rilke poem in 2023; Gwyneth Paltrow cited Rilke when asked what gave her "spiritual sustenance"; Oprah Winfrey's website features the volume Rilke on Love and Other Difficulties on her website. This list could go on and on. Rilke's writing is famous for its lyrical intensity. The pathos of his poetic language appears to "move" and "touch" readers in an unparalleled way. Soldiers going to fight in WWII carried volumes of Rilke's poetry in their knapsacks and letters of fallen soldiers contained quotes from his verse ("Who talks of victory? To endure is all.") Editions of his writings, such as Rilke for the Stressed, Words of Consolation, Letters on Loss, Grief, and Transformation attest to Rilke being viewed as someone who can provide The Poet's Guide to Life. This course introduces students to Rilke's poetry and correspondence as well as excerpts from his writings on art to critically examine his language's ability to express our innermost feelings and to offer solace. Along the way, we will also situate his work in the context of "modernism," and we will consider it in the framework of bibliotherapy (reading therapy, poetry therapy). Readings and discussions in English. All students welcome!