The Art of Reading PoetryI do not believe that poetry is mysterious or esoteric. It is for all who can read, who can call words, who have rhythm enough, by nature, so that a jazz orchestra sets feet and hands in motion. Likewise, this invitation is to all. But it is, especially, invitation to those regretfully convinced that poetry is not for them, and to those who think they prefer the unequivocating directness of prose. It is invitation to labor, and after labor, entrance upon pleasure "not to be chang'd by place or time," the peculiar pleasure which poetry is. - Invitation to reading. |
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Page 277
... line cleanly into two distinct halves , juxtaposes them sharply , one against the other . Stresses are also important to these lines . If , forgetting academic rules , we are willing to trust our ears , the pattern of stress in these two ...
... line cleanly into two distinct halves , juxtaposes them sharply , one against the other . Stresses are also important to these lines . If , forgetting academic rules , we are willing to trust our ears , the pattern of stress in these two ...
Page 415
... lines 8 and 9 : the poem rises through eight lines , then gradually sinks to relative quietude in the remaining six . This is the conventional pattern of an Italian sonnet . In Shakespeare's the climax is in lines 13 and 14 : the poem ...
... lines 8 and 9 : the poem rises through eight lines , then gradually sinks to relative quietude in the remaining six . This is the conventional pattern of an Italian sonnet . In Shakespeare's the climax is in lines 13 and 14 : the poem ...
Page 441
... lines 1-4 , as slight pauses at the ends of these lines are also right , for the poem must move without marked break if it is to have that gracious dignity suited to its fundamental tone and attitude , suited to its subject . The great ...
... lines 1-4 , as slight pauses at the ends of these lines are also right , for the poem must move without marked break if it is to have that gracious dignity suited to its fundamental tone and attitude , suited to its subject . The great ...
Contents
OUTLINE FOR A DEFENSE | 1 |
LIONS IN THE PATH | 23 |
THE READING AND THE READINGS OF THE POEM | 39 |
Copyright | |
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ALFRED LORD TENNYSON ANDREW MARVELL ballad beauty beginning bird breath caesuras contrast conventional dark dead death detail doth dream earth effect emotion English experience eyes fairy fear feeling garden hand hath heard heart heaven human idea imagery imagination John Donne JOHN KEATS John of Austria Keats kind King lady light lines live look lover meaning Milton mind Miss mood moon mother nature never night nightingale o'er once pattern phrase pleasure poem poet poet's prayer prose reader reading poetry rest rhythm rime rose seems Shakespeare ship sing Sir Patrick Sir Patrick Spens sleep song sonnet soul sound spirit stars story stress Suggestions sweet syllables tears thee thine things Thomas Rymer thou thought Three Ravens tree turn verse voice WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WILLIAM WORDSWORTH wind words