Poetry for Dummies
Sometimes it seems like there are as many definitions of poetry as there are poems. Coleridge defined poetry as “the best words in the best order.” St. Augustine called it “the Devil’s wine.” For Shelley, poetry was “the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.” But no matter how you define it, poetry has exercised a hold upon the hearts and minds of people for more than five millennia. That’s because for the attentive reader, poetry has the power to send chills...
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Sometimes it seems like there are as many definitions of poetry as there are poems. Coleridge defined poetry as “the best words in the best order.” St. Augustine called it “the Devil’s wine.” For Shelley, poetry was “the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.” But no matter how you define it, poetry has exercised a hold upon the hearts and minds of people for more than five millennia. That’s because for the attentive reader, poetry has the power to send chills shooting down the spine and lightning bolts flashing in the brain — to throw open the doors of perception and hone our sensibilities to a scalpel’s edge. Poetry For Dummies is a great guide to reading and writing poems, not only for beginners, but for anyone interested in verse. From Homer to Basho, Chaucer to Rumi, Shelley to Ginsberg, it introduces you to poetry’s greatest practitioners. It arms you with the tools you need to understand and appreciate poetry in all its forms, and to explore your own talent as a poet. Discover how to: Understand poetic language and forms Interpret poems Get a handle on poetry through the ages Find poetry readings near you Write your own poems Shop your work around to publishers Don’t know the difference between an iamb and a trochee? Worry not, this friendly guide demystifies the jargon, and it covers a lot more ground besides, including: Understanding subject, tone, narrative; and poetic language Mastering the three steps to interpretation Facing the challenges of older poetryExploring 5,000 years of verse, from Mesopotamia to the global village Writing open-form poetry Working with traditional forms of verse Writing exercises for aspiring poets Getting published From Sappho to Clark Coolidge, and just about everyone in between, Poetry For Dummies puts you in touch with the greats of modern and ancient poetry. Need guidance on composing a ghazal, a tanka, a sestina, or a psalm? This is the book for you.
Introduction1Part IReading and Understanding Poetry7Chapter 1Poetry 1019Chapter 2Subject, Tone, and Narrative31Chapter 3Tunning In to Language41Chapter 4The Art of Interpretation61Chapter 5Connecting with Poems from the Past79Part IIIn the Beginning Was a Poem91Chapter 6An Intelligent Hustle through Poetic History: From the Earliest Poetry to the 1700s93Chapter 7An Intelligent Hustle through Poetic History: The 19th Century to the Present113Part IIIWriting Poetry: A Guide for Aspiring Poets139Chapter 8Calling the Muse141Chapter 9Writing Open-Form Poetry157Chapter 10Working with Traditional Forms of Verse169Chapter 11Putting Pen to Paper: Writing Exercises for Poets177Chapter 12Going Public with Your Poetry187Chapter 13Getting Published199Part IVThe Part of Tens213Chapter 14Ten Myths about Poets and Poetry215Chapter 15Ten Poems Worth Memorizing225Chapter 16Ten Love Poems233Part VAppendixes241Appendix AGlossary243Appendix BPoetry Timeline255Appendix CResources273Permissions287Index295Book Registration Information
