The Uses of Poetry

This is an account of the part played by poetry in the life of man from earliest times to the present.

Denys Thompson (Author)

9780521292870, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 July 1978

248 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.4 cm, 0.32 kg

This is an account of the part played by poetry in the life of man from earliest times to the present. Older than prose, it was the vehicle for his technology, history, philosophy and science; it helped him feel at home in his environment; it was the social element between him and his fellows. Mr Thompson explores these many facets in the earlier chapters of his book, and then goes on to consider the impact of printing when in his view poetry became subtler but ceased to be a popular possession. However, as Mr Thompson shows, poetry could still be of value in helping people to cope with the strains of living, in assimilating the implications of vast new fields of knowledge, and in keeping alive the idea of humanity in a dehumanising age.

Preface
Part I. The Nature of Poetry: 1. The deep roots of speech
2. Rhythm
3. Symbolising
Part II. In the Beginning: 1. Dance
2. The earliest poetry
3. Work songs
4. Mnemonics
Part III. Rites, Bards, Ballads: 1. Praise, propitiation, magic
2. Rites, myths and epics
3. Living books
4. Ballad and folk song
Part IV. Maid of All Work: 1. Integral with life
2. Every man a poet
3. The oral poet and his audience
4. Education
5. Branches of knowledge
Part V. Patriotism and Politics: 1. Eulogies
2. A new weapon of war
3. Nationhood fostered
4. Propaganda
5. Printed ballads, poets and popsongs in politics
Part VI. Dissent and Protest: 1. Ancient China, Greece and Israel
2. Christian and medieval
3. The sermons, Piers Plowman and Robin Hood
4. Ballads and broadsides
5. The Romantics and the industrial revolution
6. Shuttle and cage
7. America
8. The twentieth century
Part VII. The Printed Poem: 1. The impact of printing
2. The age of industry
3. Technology, science and poetry
4. Poetry for a minority?
Part VIII. Uses of Poetry: 1. To the poet
2. To the reader
3. To society
4. Poetry as therapy 5. Agenda for the arts
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]