The Cambridge Guide to Reading Poetry

The only book that shows readers how to ask the questions which will make poems to speak to them.

Andrew Hodgson (Author)

9781108824125, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 18 November 2021

256 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.38 kg

'… the book's language is accessible, lucid, and direct, rarely dipping into undefined poetic jargon. As such, The Cambridge Guide to Reading Poetry would be useful for technical communicators looking to reintroduce themselves to the act of reading poetry critically, or even those looking for a way to write a guide for difficult and diffuse subjects with clarity.' Dylan Schrader, Technical Communication

At the heart of this book is a belief that poetry matters, and that it enables us to enjoy and understand life. In this accessible guide, Andrew Hodgson equips the reader for the challenging and rewarding experience of unlocking poetry, considering the key questions about language, technique, feeling and subject matter which illuminate what a poem has to say. In a lucid and sympathetic manner, he considers a diverse range of poets writing in English to demonstrate how their work enlarges our perception of ourselves and our world. The process of independent research is modeled step-by-step, as the guide shows where to start, how to develop ideas, and how to draw conclusions. Providing guidance on how to plan, organise and write essays, close readings and commentaries, from initial annotation to final editing, this book will provide you with the confidence to discover and express your own personal response to poetry.

Introduction: Reading Poetry
1. Reading a Poem
2. Studying a Poet
3. Writing about Poetry
Epilogue: What Should You Read?
Glossary of Common Forms and Genres
Further Reading.

Subject Areas: Literary companions, book reviews & guides [DSRC], Literary studies: poetry & poets [DSC], Literary studies: general [DSB], Literary theory [DSA], Poetry [DC]