English Metres (Classic Reprint) - Tapa blanda

Excerpt from English Metres

The word verse will be used in the following pages in the meaning of rhythmically organized language, the kind Of language in which poetry is written. To avoid confusion, the word will not be used in the meaning of line or of stanza. The study of verse is essentially the study Of the sound Of poetry, not in utter disregard Of the sense, but at least a study radically different from the study of the ideas or the imagery or the diction.

The study Of the sound of verse 'cannot, of course, wholly disregard the sense, because the sound and the sense are inseparably connected. In verse, as in prose, the position Of the pauses between words, the' relative emphasis of different syllables, the speed or slowness with which a passage is read, though allowing of a certain amount Of variation, are all determined or influenced by the sense. In verse, far more than in prose, the choice of words, and consequently the shade Of meaning con veyed, is in part determined by considerations of sound. Further, as will be explained and illustrated later, in verse we often find correspondences of another kind between sense and sound: lines and groups Of lines which correspond to each other in a metrical pattern are Often paralleled or contrasted in sense.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from English Metres

The aim of this book is to provide a brief explanation of the nature of English verse and of the means used to analyze and describe it, together with a description and history of the more frequent metrical forms. The examples are for the greater part from poems commonly studied in courses in English and American literature. It has seemed best to recognize that many points in metrical theory are still debatable. The method of marking scansion that has been employed is, of course, only one of many, but is that which, on the whole, most commends itself to the writer. For further study are recommended R. M. Alden, English Verse; C. F. Andrews, The Writing and Reading of Verse; Robert Bridges, Milton's Prosody; C. F. Jacob, The Foundation and Nature of Verse: T. S. Omond, English Metrists. The work last mentioned gives a complete history of the subject, with full bibliography. To these works the writer wishes to record his obligations. He takes this occasion to express his thanks to his colleagues Professors Martin Sampson, F. C. Prescott, and F. E. Fiske, for helpful comments on his manuscript, and Mr. J. H. Nelson, for assistance in reading the proof.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.