Canons of Criticism: An Introduction to the Development of English Poetry (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Charles William Macfarlane

9780267674725: Canons of Criticism: An Introduction to the Development of English Poetry (Classic Reprint)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0267674724 ISBN 13: 9780267674725

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

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What counts as poetry? A clear, measured look at how critics judge verse

This introduction surveys how writers have defined poetry and what makes poetic merit real. It contrasts ideas from famous critics and shows how definitions can shape our view of lines, rhythm, and the deepest feelings poems evoke.

In accessible terms, the book traces why some lines feel “poetic” while others seem prose in disguise, and why the best poetry often rests in the careful pairing of ideas and images rather than mere grandness of style. It uses well-known examples to illustrate the differences between thought, form, and the art of representation in language.

See how critics weigh the role of thought against the power of figures and images
Explore the idea of poetry as “the expressing of thought by means of figure” and its implications
Learn why poetry differs from prose and how humor and repose fit into poetic evaluation
Discover how classic lines from Wordsworth, Milton, Shakespeare, and others are used to test these theories

Ideal for students and general readers of literary criticism, this edition helps you understand the frontiers of how poetry is defined and valued.

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