The Pleasure of Poetry: Reading and Enjoying British Poetry from Donne to BurnsThe poetry produced by the British poets of the 17th and 18th centuries is considered to be among the best ever written. But many general readers feel intimidated by the language or structure of the poetry, and so tend to shy away from enjoying these poets and their works. Nelson takes readers on a tour of the major works and figures of 17th- and 18th-century British poetry, explaining major themes, devices, styles, language, rhythm, sound, tone, imagery, form, and meaning. Beginning each chapter with a sketch of the poet's life and career, the author then looks at five or six representative works, helping readers understand and appreciate the beauty of poetry itself. |
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... never properly honored or honesty often rewarded . The stanza concludes on a strong note of cynicism , leaving us to wonder if the poet will continue in this vein or modify it . In the second stanza the speaker imagines more ...
... never outrageous or false . He never bemoans his son's lost potential or imagines him with God . Nor does he share his grief with his wife , from whom he had been estranged when the boy died , apparently of the plague . This poem acts ...
... never find happiness , for even if they are successful , they can never escape the care and anxiety of possessing it . This is a race that can never be won . Only the joy of love , Burns suggests , can compensate one for the troubles of ...
Contents
Introduction to Reading Poetry | 1 |
Poet of Secular and Sacred Love | 19 |
Elegist Satirist and Moralist | 37 |
Copyright | |
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The Pleasure of Poetry: Reading and Enjoying British Poetry from Donne to Burns Nicolas H. Nelson No preview available - 2006 |