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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... verse . A few lines from John Dryden's " Alexander's Feast " ( 1697 ) in which Alexander the Great's musi- cian , Timotheus , proves he can evoke practically any emotion he wants in his audience through his flute playing , will ...
... verse form , and his verse is traditionally moral and didactic , but we also see that the themes and values of poetry are changing , at least in emphasis . Goldsmith is more overtly sociological in his concern for the poor and for the ...
... verse , making it almost infectious . Some of this joy is carried in the sound of the verse . It would be helpful for readers to listen to his poetry read by a native of Scotland , whose lilt and burr will add significantly to its ...
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 |