Full Description
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 poetry *Exploring 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.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1 (6)
Part I: Reading and Understanding Poetry 7 (84)
Poetry 101 9 (22)
Subject, Tone, and Narrative 31 (10)
Tuning In to Language 41 (20)
The Art of Interpretation 61 (18)
Connecting with Poems from the Past 79 (12)
Part II: In the Beginning Was a Poem 91 (48)
An Intelligent Hustle through Poetic History: 93 (20)
From the Earliest Poetry to the 1700s
An Intelligent Hustle through Poetic History: 113(26)
The 19th Century to the Present
Part III: Writing Poetry: A Guide for Aspiring 139(74)
Poets
Calling the Muse 141(16)
Writing Open-Form Poetry 157(12)
Working with Traditional Forms of Verse 169(8)
Putting Pen to Paper: Writing Exercises for 177(10)
Poets
Going Public with Your Poetry 187(12)
Getting Published 199(14)
Part IV: The Part of Tens 213(28)
Ten Myths about Poets and Poetry 215(10)
Ten Poems Worth Memorizing 225(8)
Ten Love Poems 233(8)
Part V: Appendixes 241(46)
Appendix A: Glossary 243(12)
Appendix B: Poetry Timeline 255(18)
Appendix C: Resources 273(14)
Permissions 287(8)
Index 295
