Leonard Cohen Beyond His Songs: Poetry, Prose, Heritage, and Legacy

While the world remembers Leonard Cohen as a legendary singer-songwriter, his deepest artistic roots lay in the written word, his ancestry, and his visual expressions. This course invites you to step beyond his famous tunes to explore Cohen's body of poetry and prose through a distinctly Jewish lens, analyzing his texts as major literary achievements separate from his musical career. Together, we will trace the influence of his Montreal upbringing and the cadence of the Yiddish language on his prose and verse; identify the lines from prayer books and symbols from the Kabbalah in his imagery; and examine the weight of history “that happened somewhere else” (Cohen) shaping his personal philosophy and identity. We will also look at Cohen’s artistic self-scrutiny through his drawings and survey his posthumous role as the object of multiple art forms—from murals to comic books to theatrical productions. Ultimately, whether you are a lifelong admirer or new to his masterpieces, you will discover the profound Jewish soul of an artist who remains both a creator and an enduring object of cultural fascination.

Who is this for?

• Fans of Leonard Cohen’s songs who want to learn about his other side as a poet, prose writer, and a visual artist

• Readers of Cohen’s works who wish to delve into the influence of Cohen's Jewish heritage on his evolving identity as expressed in his writings

• Anyone interested in Jewish Canadian literature and its most iconic figure

Takeaways

• A thoughtful exploration of Leonard Cohen's poetry, prose, and other creative achievements beyond his songwriting

• A lens for examining how an author drew upon Jewish tradition and ancestral heritage for creating unique works that resonate with different audiences

• A curated bibliography and guide to further examine Cohen’s writings in the context of Jewish Canadian literature and his lasting influence as a cultural icon