poetry: References & Edit History
More Articles On This Topic
Assorted References
- American Civil War
- imagergy
- importance to literature
- translation difficulties
association with
music
- folk music
- vocal music
- short story
elements
genres
- children’s
- Expressionist
- Romantic
- Surrealistic
literary criticism
- aesthetics
- Aristotelianism
- New Criticism
- prosody
- In prosody
theorists
use in
education
- ancient Greece
- ancient Rome
- T’ang dynasty
- African traditions and literature
- anarchist publications
- biblical literature
- Indian theatrical productions
- Oceanic cultures
Additional Reading
The most convenient way to get to know poetry is to read poetry. It would be invidious for the writer of a general article on the subject to prejudice the reader by making a selection of poems or poets; in experience, anyhow, one’s acquaintance with poetry comes about chiefly by love and accident, supported, when not undermined, by schools, colleges, and libraries. Beyond that, the bibliographical temptation is to put before the reader numerous learned works that are not poetry but about poetry; whatever their usefulness at various stages of study, and it may be great, they must not substitute for the reading of poetry itself. Therefore no such list is attempted.
The beginning reader, however, may well be able to use some help in interpreting, such as a critical or explanatory anthology. Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren, Understanding Poetry, 4th ed. (1976), is still probably the best of its kind, as numerous imitations amply attest. See also Tzvetan Todorov, Introduction to Poetics (1981; originally published in French, 1973), a comprehensive introduction to modern poetics.
Article Contributors
Primary Contributors
Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors
Article History
| Type | Description | Contributor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Added lists of poetic terms and forms. | Dec 24, 2024 | ||
| Modified link of Web site: Humanities LibreTexts - What is Poetry? | Oct 24, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: CORE - New Trends In Modern Poetry. | Sep 14, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: The Open University - What is poetry? | Jan 02, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: University of Texas - Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services - What is Poetry? | Nov 05, 2023 | ||
| Links added. | Jun 09, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Palm Beach State College - What is Poetry? | Apr 03, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Humanities LibreTexts - What is Poetry? | Oct 18, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: Academia - History of Poetry. | Aug 13, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: Poetry Foundation - U.S. Latinx Voices in Poetry. | Aug 18, 2021 | ||
| Add new Web site: Poetry Foundation - U.S. Latinx Voices in Poetry. | Aug 18, 2021 | ||
| Add new Web site: Academy of American Poets - Dear Poet Project - Dear Alberto Rios 2020. | May 13, 2021 | ||
| Add new Web site: Academy of American Poets - Dear Poet Project - Dear Alberto Rios 2020. | May 13, 2021 | ||
| Added cross-references. | Nov 05, 2020 | ||
| Add new Web site: Poetry.org - What is Poetry. | Jan 08, 2019 | ||
| Corrected display issue. | Jun 28, 2018 | ||
| Add new Web site: National Endowment for the Arts - What is Poetry ? | Dec 02, 2016 | ||
| Add new Web site: University of Essex - Poetry in Literature and Creative Writing. | Aug 08, 2016 | ||
| Add new Web site: Fact Monster - Poetry. | Nov 29, 2012 | ||
| Add new Web site: British Broadcasting Corporation - poetry. | Jul 27, 2012 | ||
| Add new Web site: How Stuff Works - Entertainment - How Poetry Works. | May 24, 2012 | ||
| Add new Web site: Best Poems - The Famous Poems Encyclopedia. | Mar 15, 2011 | ||
| Add new Web site: Best Poems - The Famous Poems Encyclopedia. | Mar 15, 2011 | ||
| Article revised and updated. | Jan 18, 2011 | ||
| Add new Web site: Iloveindia.com - Basic Elements Of Poetry. | Jan 03, 2011 | ||
| Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Poetry. | Sep 08, 2010 | ||
| Add new Web site: How Stuff Works - Entertainment - How Poetry Works. | Sep 08, 2010 | ||
| Article revised and updated. | Aug 13, 2010 | ||
| Media added. | May 01, 2009 | ||
| Added new Web site: Grant Schuyler - The Early History Of Poetry. | Mar 12, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: The Poetry Foundation - History of Poetry. | Mar 12, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: The College of New Rochelle - Poetry and New Criticism. | Jan 09, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: Consulate General of Brazil - An Introduction to Modern Poetry in Brazil. | Jul 16, 2007 | ||
| Added new Web site: Favorite Poem Project. | Oct 25, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Poets.org - The Academy of American Poets. | Oct 25, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: The EServer Poetry Collection. | Oct 25, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: The Poetry Foundation. | Oct 25, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Inkless Tales - Stories, Poems, and Games for Children. | Aug 09, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: University of Michigan Humanities Text Initiative - American Verse Project. | Jun 13, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: The World of Poetry. | Jun 05, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: The Albany Poetry Workshop. | May 25, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Spondee - Poems. Poetry. Poets. | May 25, 2006 | ||
| Article revised. | Mar 02, 2001 | ||
| Article added to new online database. | Aug 23, 1998 |