Poetic Designs: An Introduction to Meters, Verse Forms, and Figures of Speech - Softcover

Stephen Adams

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1551111292 ISBN 13: 9781551111292

Publisher: Broadview Press, 1997

Synopsis

There are numerous introductions to poetry and prosody available, but none at once so comprehensive and so accessible as this. With the increasing emphasis on free verse, the past generation has developed a widespread impression that the study of poetic meter is old fashioned―or even that form ‘doesn’t matter’ in poetry. It is an impression that has not been dispelled by the emphasis of some of the existing texts in the area on forms that are now rare or outmoded. The irony is that simultaneously in the past decade interest in formal matters among many poets and literary scholars has been on the increase; the reality is that prosody is today on the cutting edge of literary studies.

Stephen Adams’ text provides a full treatment of traditional topics, from the iambic pentameter through other accentual-syllabic rhythms (trochaic, dactylic and so on) and covering as well other metrical types, stanza structure, the sonnet and other standard forms. Adams also includes a variety of topics not covered in most other introductions to the topic; perhaps most significantly, he provides a full chapter on form in free verse. Moreover, he treats rhyme extensively and includes a comprehensive chapter on literary figures. Poetic Designs is thus much more that an introduction to prosody; it is a concise but comprehensive introduction to the nature of poetry in English. It is a book for the general reader and the aspiring writer as well as for the student, a book intended (in the words of the author) to help ‘heighten the experience of poetry.’

About this title

About the Author:

Stephen J. Adams of the English Department at the University of Western Ontario, is currently Associate Dean of Arts at that university. He is also the author of R. Murray Schafer, in the Canadian Composers Series of the University of Toronto Press.

Review:

“One of the book’s most salient strengths is how gracefully the author handles some of the knottiest problems a teacher of prosody will encounter. This is a very strong book” ― Annie Finch, Miami University, Ohio

“One of the most impressive features is Adams’ mastery at introducing various intricacies as they surface in his examples instead of giving lists of rules and the like. Adams’ writing style is impeccable, lucid and tightly controlled. He manages to get through a great deal of material quite quickly, without ever sacrificing accuracy and thoroughness.” ― Demetres Tryphonopoulos, University of New Brunswick

“A very good guide to the subject, full of erudition, but also full of pedagogical savvy. There is a fine and informal ear evident throughout.” ― Don McKay, winner of the Governor General’s Award for Poetry

“Adams offers help to students and teachers of poetry with his lively, accessible guide to the mechanics of verse. [His] clear and measured examination of the elements of poetry and straight-ahead style make Poetic Designs a valuable resource.” ― Quill and Quire

About this edition

• Publisher: Broadview Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1551111292
• ISBN 13: 9781551111292
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 237