How to Read a Poem

Book Description

In this witty, accessible book, Terry Eagleton argues that the art of reading poetry is as much in danger of becoming extinct as thatching or clog dancing. On the whole, students today are not taught how to be sensitive to language - how to read a poem with due attention to its tone, mood, pitch, pace, rhythm and texture, rather than just to 'what it says'. To demonstrate how this works in practice, the author takes a wide range of poems from the Renaissance to the present day and submits them to brilliantly illuminating close analysis. As one of the world's leading literary theorists, Eagleton also summons the aid of such pioneering critics as the Russian Formalists to raise some provocative general questions: bull; bull;What is poetry, and how does it differ from prose? bull;Is there a language peculiar to poetry? bull;What exactly do we mean by imagery? Lucid, entertaining and full of insight, How To Read A Poem is designed to banish the intimidation that too often attends the subject of poetry, and in doing so to bring it into the personal possession of the students and the general reader.

Customer Reviews:

Context and Content.......2007-03-07

I think this may be a book for people who have bought; read and enjoyed poetry beyond the duties of formal education. Terry Eagleton brings so much more to the reading of a poem -and still rings true.

Good guide for the student.......2006-10-27

In mostly eschewing theoretic jargon, or by giving clear examples to explain the jargon used, Eagleton has written an excellent guide for the academic reader. I stipulate this qualification because the mythical Common Reader would probably be put off by the detailed explanation of such things as the theories of the Russian Formalists and their disciples that take up several chapters. While Eagleton remains a proud card-carrying Theorist (an academic species he feels has been grossly misunderstood), he does the heavy lifting for the reader so, with only a modicum of effort, his arguments can usually be easily followed.

All this would be beside the point unless he had some illuminating things to say about the structure of poetry and how to approach the critical reading of a poem. Happily he does, which makes this short volume repay any effort it takes to read.

Unlike Harold Bloom, he expects little on faith from the reader and makes the necessary effort to convince you of his points. And although his Marxist sentiments are frequently in evidence, he never becomes heavy-handed and uses his bias more for flavoring than the meal itself.

So like many critical guides, what your needs are going in will determine your satisfaction coming out. For the general reader, Stephen Fry's "The Ode Not Taken" might be a better fit. For the serious student of literature, Mr. Eagleton's guide is a worthwhile investment.

How to Read a Poem: And Fall in Love with Poetry

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Bought for Poetry writing course
Like an old glove, it gets better with age...
Too simple, too personal
What goes out from the heart enters the heart
But... How to Read a Poem?

How to Read a Poem: And Fall in Love with Poetry
Edward Hirsch
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0156005662

Amazon.com

Edward Hirsch's primer may very well inspire readers to catch the next flight for Houston and sign up for any and all of his courses. Not for nothing does this attentive and adoring poet-teacher title his book How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry; Hirsch's big guide to getting the most out of this form is packed with inspiring examples and thousands of epigrams and allusions. Above all, he is intent on poetry's physical and emotional power. In chapters devoted to the lyric, the narrative, the poetry of sorrow, of ecstasy, of witness, Hirsch continually conveys the sheer ecstasy of this vital act of communication. (He takes us, for instance, with great care and mounting excitement, through Emily Brontë's "Spellbound," which he discovered at age 8 when "baseball season was over for the year.") Above all, there is the thrill of discovery as Hirsch offers up works by artists ranging from Anna Akhmatova to Walt Whitman, Elizabeth Bishop to Adam Zagajewski, and everyone in between. I defy you not to fall in love with Wislawa Szymborska on the basis of "The Joy of Writing," which begins:

Why does this written doe bound through these written woods?
For a drink of written water from a spring
whose surface will xerox her soft muzzle?
Why does she lift her head; does she hear something?
Perched on four slim legs borrowed from the truth,
she pricks up her ears beneath my fingertips.

Elsewhere, Hirsch's section on Sterling Brown's redefinitions of African American work songs should put this neglected poet back on the map. And his introductions to Eastern European poets such as Jirí Orten, Attila József, and Miklós Radnóti will make you want to ferret out their hard-to-find work. (Perhaps his publisher should put out a companion anthology...)

Hirsch manages to cram entire worlds and lives into 258 pages of text (which he follows up with a huge glossary and extended reading list). His two paragraphs on Juan Gelman, whose son was murdered and pregnant daughter-in-law disappeared during Argentina's "Dirty War," bring this man's art into clear, tragic focus. But even here, the compulsively generous author is compelled to enshrine the words of other critics, foregrounding Eduardo Galeano and Julio Cortázar, who describes Gelman's art as "a permanent caress of words on unknown tombs." What a pleasure it is to be inside Hirsch's head! He seems to have read everything and absorbed most of it, and he wears his considerable scholarship lightly. Many of his fellow poets have suffered for their art, have been imprisoned and killed--but above all, Hirsch makes us realize that, no matter what the artist's circumstances, subject, or theme, "the stakes are always high" in this game that writer and reader alike must keep playing. --Kerry Fried

Book Description

How to Read a Poem is an unprecedented exploration of poetry and feeling. In language at once acute and emotional, distinguished poet and critic Edward Hirsch describes why poetry matters and how we can open up our imaginations so that its message can make a difference. In a marvelous reading of verse from around the world, including work by Pablo Neruda, Elizabeth Bishop, Wallace Stevens, and Sylvia Plath, among many others, Hirsch discovers the true meaning of their words and ideas and brings their sublime message home into our hearts. A masterful work by a master poet, this brilliant summation of poetry and human nature will speak to all readers who long to place poetry in their lives.

Customer Reviews:

Bought for Poetry writing course.......2007-04-07

Bought for poetry writing course, was helful but slow read.

Like an old glove, it gets better with age..........2007-03-09

I tend to think of this book as I do my seasoned, battered first baseman's mitt, which accompanied me through eight seasons of championship Senior Mens' Hardball in the Northwest.

As I grow older, I become more appreciative of Ed Hirsch's spiritual gift. It is no small feat to mentor well, especially in a field as suspicious as poetry, but Hirsch manages quite well, with no lies and no breaking of hands, with no disillusion or politicking. By sharing his passion and speaking honestly and humbly from his heart, he presents a compelling case for reading poetry, for reading at all for enjoyment, love, and salvation. It's a necessary book, and I wish I had written it myself. It is a superior substitute for extended, engaging conversation. I'm glad we have it, and that someone as capable as Ed Hirsch has made himself and his insights available to us.

Robert McDowell, author of the forthcoming Poetry In Your Spiritual Practice

Too simple, too personal.......2006-09-27

This book is for people who never read poetry or "just don't get it" when they do.

The author focuses on why he fell in love with each poem, information that I found boring because of the way it was delivered. He then picks apart the poems (sometimes cutting out every line, sometimes grabbing at random bits). It takes away from the magic of a poem when someone uses pages upon pages trying to explain why it is beautiful or moving. Those things must be felt - gained from the poem itself.

There are so many ways in which this book could have been written that would have made it uplifting, touching, or, at the very least, not boring.

What goes out from the heart enters the heart.......2005-05-08

There is a Jewish teaching, that something said from the heart enters the heart. Hirsch's love of poetry is the dominant theme here, an enthusiasm he teaches in every line he writes. He cites Rilke as saying that poetry should be an ' experience' something felt and sensed directly. And poetry is clearly that for Hirsch.
Those of us who have read poetry all our lives, and found in it a special gift and power, a special consolation and source of strength know and understand the kind of ' love' Hirsch is talking about.
Poetry can enhance life and give us strength in it. If this work succeeds in bringing more readers into the circle of loving poetry then it will certainly have done work of value.

But... How to Read a Poem?.......2004-09-28

Edward Hirsch has written a meticulous analysis of the art of poetry, imbued with an authentic love of the form. From page to page he dissects and interprets; his enthusiasm remains high throughout. Not just the poetry, but also the poets themselves are lavished with heroic praise, their craft transcending the mortal. Their words are golden strands of virtue more appropriately whispered into the ears of gods.

But, but...

For those of us uneducated in the art of poetry there is a much more basic level of understanding that has to be achieved first: Why no punctuation? Why do sentences break in mid-breath? How does one find the meter in a poem? How does one read poetry without the stops and starts from line to line? Perhaps we should have learned this in school, but we didn't, so we bought this book.

This is a good book, really, but it is not what its title suggests. It should rather be entitled "The Love of Poetry", or "Falling in Love With Poetry", or "Furthering Your Love of Poetry", or something else emotive. "How to Read a Poem" sounds mechanical, the basics, just what those uneducated among us get when we do a keyword search on how to read a poem.

Select another book in order to learn how to read a poem, then graduate to this one once you comprehend the basics.

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A superb introduction
Fantastic Poetry Trainer

How to Read a Poem (Meridian)
Burton Raffel
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452010330

Customer Reviews:

A superb introduction.......2007-02-16

This is still one of the best introductions to poetry ever published -- clear, straightforward, intelligent, richly detailed & written in a distinctive voice. Whether you're a student or simply love poetry, this book will serve as your guide to the world of poetry, not only explaining how it works on a technical level, but on an emotional level as well. There's no dry, above-it-all, academic prose here! Raffel is fiercely engaged with poetry, deeply in love with its beauties & possibilities, and that comes through on every page. Opinionated at times? Yes, and his book is all the better for it. Even when I disagree with his comments on this poem or that poet, I recognize his insight & passion for this wonderful art form. You just won't find a better introduction than this one -- most highly recommended!

Fantastic Poetry Trainer.......1998-10-12

When I was studying "Introduction to Poetry", I turned to Burton Raffel's "How to Read a Poem," to get the information I needed. Lot's of examples and very informative. This book is a must for anyone wanting to learn about poetry.

How to Read a Poem...: and Start a Poetry Circle

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Great Insights To Poetry
Poetry as Joy and Gift
How to Read a Poem and Start a Poetry Circle
This book should be required reading.

How to Read a Poem...: and Start a Poetry Circle
Molly Peacock
Manufacturer: Riverhead Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1573227854
Release Date: 2000-03-06

Book Description

Molly Peacock has already brought poetry into people's lives with her sold-out lectures, NPR appearances, and the creation of the "Poetry in Motion" program in the subway systems of major cities. Now she offers a book that strips away poetry's scary mystique, introducing readers to its pleasures and inspiring them to form their own poetry circles with friends. Poetry is an invitation into new worlds both interior and exterior-and with this delightful volume, Molly Peacock shows us how to accept that invitation.

( Includes poems by Jane Kenyon, Gerard Manley Hopkins, May Swenson, Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Atwood, and others
( Includes a chapter on how to organize a poetry reading group

"A very enthusiastic and plain-spoken book that celebrates the author's lifelong love affair with poetry."-Baltimore Sun

"Simple, straightforward help that gives the fearful a five-minutes-a-day introduction to poetry, the intermediate reader the inspiration to 'fall in love' with poetry, and the courageous a guide to starting a poetry circle with friends."-St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Peacock guides the reader through thirteen of her favorite poems with grace, humor, and warmth...her sheer delight in them is infectious."-Kirkus Reviews

Customer Reviews:

Great Insights To Poetry.......2003-12-05

I read a lot of poetry, but it never hurts to hear well-thought insight on the topic, and Ms. Peacock provides just that. The poems she chooses are diverse, excellent, and far from war horses. Her comments impart true value. I enjoyed the poems when first reading and then even more so when reading her take on them. There should be more poetry books similar in format. It is a great way to learn the appreciation of poetry. Plus, it even benefits the seasoned reader.

(Also, look up Ms. Peacock's own poetry. She is very talented in her own right.)

Poetry as Joy and Gift.......2000-06-19

This book is, in short, a gift - luminous and elegant and joyful. Buy a copy for yourself and you will give one to someone you love...and you will have forever a place inside of you to return that only great art can create. Lovers of poems and thoughtful, soulful prose that gives of itself in a nearly endless fashion will cherish this book, I believe. And so the 'Circle' becomes larger where everything that is true of human experience is welcome in the most well-wrought form. Molly Peacock is the finest kind of teacher.

How to Read a Poem and Start a Poetry Circle.......1999-12-28

Do you know Robert Pinsky's talisman poem? How about the favorite poem of Robt. Bly, W.S. Merwin, Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver, Jane Kenyon, Naomi Shahib Nye, or Donald Hall? Molly Peacock does and she presents the list of talisman poems from 60 contemporary poets in the back matter of her book. This list provides a great springboard for further reading! Peacock begins How to Read a Poem--And Start a Poetry Circle by discussing her JOY of language and poetry and then goes on to present 13 of her favorite poems. She explains how these poems have enriched her journey. This book does exactly what the title promises. Peacock discusses the rich qualities of her favorite poems and then tells the reader how to find the same enjoyment in starting a poetry circle of their own. If you love poetry, you'll love this book. Like a good poem, you'll come back to it again and again.

This book should be required reading........1999-07-26

The only other book that hovers in the "shimmering verge" between essay and lyric poem the way this book does is Anne Carson's Eros the Bittersweet. Peacock's book is written in a style that never talks down to seasoned poets, yet clarifies even the most complex poetics for those new to this art. When all is said and done, that is precisely what this book is: a thrillingly beautiful work of art. I am enriched by it.

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The Art of Poetry: How to Read a Poem
Shira Wolosky
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0195138708

Book Description

In The Art of Poetry, Shira Wolosky provides a dazzling introduction to an art whose emphasis on verbal music, wordplay, and dodging the merely literal makes it at once the most beguiling and most challenging of literary forms. A uniquely comprehensive, step-by-step introduction to poetic form, The Art of Poetry moves progressively from smaller units such as the word, line, and image, to larger features such as verse forms and voice. In fourteen engaging, beautifully written chapters, Wolosky explores in depth how poetry does what it does while offering brilliant readings of some of the finest lyric poetry in the English and American traditions. Both readers new to poetry and poetry veterans will be moved and enlightened as Wolosky interprets work by William Shakespeare, John Donne, William Blake, William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath, and others. The book includes a superb two-chapter discussion of the sonnet's form and history, and represents the first poetry guide to introduce gender as a basic element of analysis. In contrast to many existing guides, which focus on selected formal aspects like metrics or present definitions and examples in a handbook format, The Art of Poetry covers the full landscape of poetry's subtle art while showing readers how to comprehend a poetic text in all its dimensions. Other special features include Wolosky's consideration of historical background for the developments she discusses, and the way her book is designed to acquaint or reacquaint readers with the core of the lyric tradition in English. Lively, accessible, and original, The Art of Poetry will be a rich source of inspiration for students, general readers, and those who teach poetry.

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A Vital Form of Poetry

How to Read an Oral Poem
John Miles Foley
Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0252070828

Customer Reviews:

A Vital Form of Poetry.......2005-03-07

I've been reading a wonderful introduction to Oral Poetry written by John Miles Foley. Written in a non-stuffy, unacademic manner, it is yet one of the most informative ventures into this topic, while remaining free of most of the jargon of Derrida, Blanchot and company. In addition, we are taken beyond the usual round of Homer, Lonnrot and anonymous Praise and Throat Singers and given a front seat at the Nuyorican Cafe for an ear-full of slam orality, which will definitely bring Professor Foley's lessons home to students attuned to Rap and Ten Mile. Highly recommended

A Grain of Poetry: How to Read Contemporary Poems and Make Them A Part of Your Life

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A Helpful Guide to Interpreting Poetry
Star Vs. Steer

A Grain of Poetry: How to Read Contemporary Poems and Make Them A Part of Your Life
Herbert R. Kohl
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060930713
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Book Description

Poetry has the power to move and challenge the reader. It can intensify or even celebrate misery, be cynical or wry, or just laugh outright in an outrageous way. Poetry is as serious and antic as life, and yet reading modern poetry can be shocking to our sense of what language is or must be.

In A Grain of Poetry, Herbert Kohl presents a series of guideposts to help everyone read poetry and discover those poems that inform and inspire them. In clear, direct language, he covers all of the essential-but often unchartedpaths to understanding poetry: form and structure, line breaks and pauses, rhythm and melody, imagery, and recitation. Written by one of the country's leading educators, A Grain of Poetry is a comprehensive and accessible guide for all poets, students, and poetry lovers.

Customer Reviews:

A Helpful Guide to Interpreting Poetry.......2002-07-01

This book helps readers new to poetry find ways to absorb a poem's meaning. There is usually no right or wrong answer when reading a poem; instead, it's an emotional response. This book gives helpful suggestions about how to get in touch with your emotional response to a poem.

Star Vs. Steer.......2000-11-17

I thought Ian Hamilton Finley's Star poem was strange. Is that poetry? How did he get published in your book with that? I mean, I'm taking an American Lit class and there are certain guidelines to poetry, right? Maybe if you said that was 'Art' then he could get by with stacking 'stars' and ending with a 'steer', but one wonders how long it took him to come up with that. A second? Did he get paid for that? If so, then I'm sending in some poetic art and should get paid as well. Also, I don't think we should stretch to find meaning in what we see. The examples you gave as to what the poem could mean were 'out there' to say the least. If this is the kind of stuff you put in your books, then where do we find real poetry?

How to Read A Chinese Poem: A Bilingual Anthology of Tang Poetry

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How to read a Chinese Poem---a bilingual anthology of Tang poetry

How to Read A Chinese Poem: A Bilingual Anthology of Tang Poetry
Edward C. Chang (Translated and Annotated)
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Chinese Poetry, 2nd ed., Revised: An Anthology of Major Modes and Genres

ASIN: 1419670131
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Product Description

This bilingual edition of Tang poems offers a new approach to reading and understanding classical Chinese poetry in general and regulated verse in particular. Included in this anthology are nearly two hundred regulated verses written by the great poets of the Tang Dynasty such as Du Fu, Li Bai, Wang Wei, Li Shangyin, and Men Haoran. This book differs from other books of poetry translation in that each poem is given a bilingual annotation with respect to the literal meanings of each key word. In addition, the tone and pinyin transliteration of each Chinese character are provided for reference. Here, even a reader who does not know the Chinese language can learn to recite the original poem and get a feel on how the original poem should sound like. Also, by providing both a word-for-word and literary translation, the reader can better understand what the poet was thinking. This book is particularly designed for those who cannot read Chinese but want to know more about how regulated poems are written and how they sound in Chinese. It is also designed as a learning resource for student of the Chinese language and for those who are interested in the Chinese culture. This book will be especially helpful to those who want read Tang poems from a bilingual perspective.

Customer Reviews:

How to read a Chinese Poem---a bilingual anthology of Tang poetry.......2007-10-17

This is the first most comprehensive bilingual book of Chinese poetry. It is designed for those who are interested in the Chinese culture and want to read and understand classical Chinese poetry. After reading the book, even a reader who does not know the Chinese language can recite the Tang poems written by famous poets in the 7th Century. The word -for- word and literary translation also elegantly express the poet's inner thought. Members of the Washington Chinese Poetry Society and I strongly recommend this book to the readers.

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How To Read a Poem
Roy Thomas
Manufacturer: UNIV OF LONDON PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UDJ2FQ

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How to read a poem
Roy Thomas
Manufacturer: University of London Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0007J8A8I

Book Description

One of the masterworks of maritime art: the famous English artist’s richly atmospheric record of English ships and shipping in the early 1800’s. 65 detailed etchings focus on the river craft of the Thames, with scenes of harbor and shore life at Portsmouth, Brighton and other locales. Reprinted from an 1829 British edition. Publisher’s Note.

Customer Reviews:

FANTASTIC ARTWORK AND A LOT OF IT!.......2004-08-26

I used this book to help make a decoupage project for a young boy. I wanted something to thrill the boy and also still be appreciated by him later in life. These detailed ink drawings are truly gorgeous and will be appreciated for their aesthetic virtues by any person who loves sailboats and ships. There are brief descriptions by the artist and/or editor with every picture so it provides a kind of overview history of many different types of watercraft found in British waters in the mid-1800's. The book's price is soooo reasonable IMHO. I would give this book much more that a 5-star rating if I could.

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