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 20
... things of all literatures . Milton set himself , in Paradise Lost , to assert eternal Providence , And justify the ... things of life , or philosophy , or morals , or any of the other wrong motives assigned for the study of literature ...
... things of all literatures . Milton set himself , in Paradise Lost , to assert eternal Providence , And justify the ... things of life , or philosophy , or morals , or any of the other wrong motives assigned for the study of literature ...
Page 37
... things we discover in his work . The poem may contain beauties he was not aware of . And there is danger of reading in , but not nearly so serious as people are prone to suppose . In fact , it is so slight that , for practical purposes ...
... things we discover in his work . The poem may contain beauties he was not aware of . And there is danger of reading in , but not nearly so serious as people are prone to suppose . In fact , it is so slight that , for practical purposes ...
Page 63
... things and big moments . Between mountain peaks lie long level valleys where we live most of the time , when " little things " follow on " little things " in unvarying succession , so that they threaten to transform our lives into what ...
... things and big moments . Between mountain peaks lie long level valleys where we live most of the time , when " little things " follow on " little things " in unvarying succession , so that they threaten to transform our lives into what ...
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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appear attention ballad beauty become beginning better break close comes contrast dead death detail dream earth effect emotion English example experience expression eyes fall fear feeling figure garden give hand heard heart human idea imagination important interesting John keep kind lady land leave less light lines live look matter meaning mind Miss move nature never night Notice once passed pattern pleasure poem poet poet's poetry probably prose reader reason rest rhythm rime rose seems sense ship sing sleep song sonnet soul sound spirit stand stanza stars story stress Suggestions sweet tears tell thee things thou thought turn understanding verse voice wind write written