Poetic Rhythm: An Introduction

by Derek Attridge

Overview

This is the first introduction to rhythm and meter that begins where students are: as speakers of English familiar with the rhythms of the spoken word, nursery rhymes, song and rap. Poetic Rhythm builds on this knowledge and experience, moving from basic questions about the rhythms of spoken English to the elaborate achievements of past and present poets. Terminology is straightforward and there are frequent practical exercises. Poetic Rhythm will help readers of English poetry experience and enjoy its power, subtlety and diversity, and will serve as an invaluable tool for those who write or discuss poetry in English.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521423694
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/28/1995
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.94(h) x 0.83(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgments; On using this book; 1. The rhythms of poetry: a first approach; 2. The rhythms of spoken English; 3. Dancing language; 4. Stress verse and strong-stress verse: counting the beats; 5. Syllable-stress verse: versatility and variation; 6. Major types of syllable-stress verse; 7. Free verse: metrical and rhythmic analysis; 8. Phrasal movement; Appendix 1. Scansion; Appendix 2. Glossary; Appendix 3. Sources of examples; Appendix 4. Suggested responses to the exercises.

Editorial Reviews

'At long, long last here is the text that may well revolutionise our perception and analysis of poetry and shift attention from image-play and patterning to the rightful primacy of speech rhythms and metricality … Derek Attridge propounds invaluable theoretical concepts as well as applied techniques … Bliss!' Richard Taylor, Modern Language Review

' … an exceptional introduction to the rhythmic aspects of poetry which manages to be a the same time insightful and perfectly readable.' Buchbesprechungen

From the Publisher