Spring 2026 OLLI Digital Catalog – under construction 

THE AGE OF ANXIETY (H352)

H – Literature

Required text: The Age of Anxiety: A Baroque Eclogue, W.H. Auden, ISBN 0-69-113815-X. In his book-length poem The Age of Anxiety, published in 1947, W.H. Auden coined a phrase that defined an era. Arguably, we’re still living in an age of anxiety. The class will examine and discuss Auden’s challenging poem, the Leonard Bernstein symphony that it directly inspired, and a ballet based on Auden’s work and Bernstein’s music. We’ll also discuss “anxiety” generically and explore how these works of art inform and perhaps mitigate our own personal and societal anxieties.

This offering meets for a total of 10 session(s).

INSTRUCTORS: Bill Collins, Esther Summers, Judy Govatos

COLLINS, BILL — M.A., English, University of Delaware. Retired from DuPont. Plays various musical instruments, but known primarily as a mountain dulcimer player/instructor, teaching more than 150 dulcimer workshops at festivals throughout the eastern U.S. Ukulele became a new musical passion about five years ago. (H352)

SUMMERS, ESTHER — B.A., English, Vassar College. Former teacher; also did professional work in marketing. Mother of three. An OLLI student since 2005. Enjoys four book clubs, all music, and reading poetry. (H352)

GOVATOS, JUDY — Former English teacher and healthcare management administrator. Veteran OLLI attendee and instructor. Fearless social activist whose advocacy work has been covered nationally, including in the New York Times. (H352)

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