After having read the poems of Louise McNeill and others, write your own scientific poem. Research a scientific topic -- perhaps one of the theories mentioned at the end of John Timpane's "The Poetry of Science" -- (you may want to use an encyclopedia), then write a poem that both conveys information and celebrates the science or mathematics involved.
Typical readings for this lesson:
David Levy, excerpt from Starry Night
Louise McNeill, "The Long Traveler", "The Leaf", "After Hearing a Lecture on Modern Physics", "Quadrille of the Naked Contours," "Scholastic", "Star--Map"
John Timpane, "The Poetry of Science"
As we have seen, science is a process that is characterized by both discipline and "eureka!" moments. Think about Einstein and Picasso's conversation in Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile, on how ideas come to them. Consider Alan Lightman's Einstein's Dreams, in which each version of time is a different dream that he has. Now, research a scientist that is not very well known and write a fictional account of his/her work in general or pivotal moment of discovery as if you were that person (use the first person point-of-view (POV)).
Typical readings for this lesson:
Steve Martin, Picasso at the Lapin Agile (excerpt)
Alan Lightman, Einstein's Dreams (excerpt)
After looking at the excerpt from Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, write a scene in which one character is explaining a scientific concept to another. "Explain" a scientific concept in a creative way, either by writing a scene from a play with dialogue, or a more fanciful piece of fiction. Or, you might write from the point of view of a character who couldn't have observed what she is explaining. For example, she may be too small, it may be too hot or cold for humans to exist, or she may be larger than entire planets or even galaxies. Consider the section of Italo Calvino's Cosmicomics, where a scientific concept is explained from the point of view of a character who was "present" at an early time when the universe was evolving.
Typical reading for this lesson:
Tom Stoppard, Arcadia
Using your instructor's comments, revise your fiction exercise from Lesson 2. Be sure to attend to balancing description and economy, your writing voice, and finishing touches.
Typical reading for this lesson:
Italo Calvino, Mr. Palomar (excerpt)
Throughout this course, you have seen many examples of poetry, fiction, and plays that use scientific ideas and borrow scientific language. Discuss the particular challenges an author faces when she chooses to write a creative work on a scientific theme. In your opinion, what are some of the more successful scientific pieces we have seen in this course? What makes them successful? How have the authors of these more successful creative works overcome the challenges of writing a creative, scientific piece? Finally, examine your own work in the same manner. Which was your most successful piece, and why? Conclude with a general statement about the use of science in creative writing.
Typical readings for this lesson:
Pattiann Rogers, "The Brain Creates Itself"
Siv Cedering, "Letter from Caroline Herschel (1750-1848)"
