English Versification - Softcover

E. Wadham

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0461967537 ISBN 13: 9780461967531

Publisher: HardPress, 2021

Synopsis

English Versification by E. Wadham is a practical guide to the whole subject of English Versification. It distinguishes verse from poetry and explains how English metre relies on native accents rather than classical quantity, proposing a modern terminology (march, trip, quick, revert) for feet. The work surveys historical forms such as Old Alliterative Measure, analyzes the dominant march metre (blank verse), and then treats rhymed forms from simple couplets to longer staves and lays. It discusses pauses (cesura) and the hover in blank verse, and considers rhyme, half-rhyme, and alliteration, including the debate over perfect rhymes. The book also examines the rendering of Greek metre into English and the variety of mid-rhyme formations, staves, and odes. Throughout, Wadham emphasizes how rhythm, cadence, and proportion govern English poetry, providing guidance on presenting lines for expressive effect and on choosing appropriate metres for different subjects. The volume includes historical context, technical guidance, and practical examples across a wide range of poetic forms.

Edition details

• Publisher: HardPress
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0461967537
• ISBN 13: 9780461967531
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 180