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Clarence Posted 21 years ago
Appreciating poetry
0 I find poetry interesting. But I'm not sure how to appreciate poems which do not rhyme, like the one below. (I think it is called 'free verse'?) I'd greatly appreciate it if someone could enlighten me. 02 br
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00 * * * * * 02 br
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00 THE NET 02 br
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00 Toward evening the wind changes. Boats 02 br
00 still out on the bay 02 br
00 head for shore. A man with one arm 02 br
00 sits on the keel of a rotting-away 02 br
00 vessel, working on a glimmering net. 02 br
00 He raises his eyes. Pulls at something 02 br
00 with his teeth, and bites hard. 02 br
00 I go past without a word. 02 br
00 Reduced to confusion 02 br
00 by the variableness of this weather, 02 br
00 the importunities of my heart. I keep 02 br
00 going. When I turn back to look 02 br
00 I'm far enough away 02 br
00 to see that man caught in a net. 02 br
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00 * * * * * 02 br
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00 Usually, I'd have questions such as: 02 br
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00 1. How does the author choose to break the lines? 02 br
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00 2. Why does the author choose to break the lines at 'Boats', 'keep', etc. (Maybe breaking at 'Boats' leaves a picture in the reader's mind, but what about 'keep'?) 02 br
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00 3. What is the significance of these breaks? 02 br
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00 4. Why do we call this a 'poem'? How do we judge if one is or not? 0-
02 br
00 * * * * * 02 br
02 br
00 THE NET 02 br
02 br
00 Toward evening the wind changes. Boats 02 br
00 still out on the bay 02 br
00 head for shore. A man with one arm 02 br
00 sits on the keel of a rotting-away 02 br
00 vessel, working on a glimmering net. 02 br
00 He raises his eyes. Pulls at something 02 br
00 with his teeth, and bites hard. 02 br
00 I go past without a word. 02 br
00 Reduced to confusion 02 br
00 by the variableness of this weather, 02 br
00 the importunities of my heart. I keep 02 br
00 going. When I turn back to look 02 br
00 I'm far enough away 02 br
00 to see that man caught in a net. 02 br
02 br
00 * * * * * 02 br
02 br
00 Usually, I'd have questions such as: 02 br
02 br
00 1. How does the author choose to break the lines? 02 br
02 br
00 2. Why does the author choose to break the lines at 'Boats', 'keep', etc. (Maybe breaking at 'Boats' leaves a picture in the reader's mind, but what about 'keep'?) 02 br
02 br
00 3. What is the significance of these breaks? 02 br
02 br
00 4. Why do we call this a 'poem'? How do we judge if one is or not? 0-
Top answer
0 Hi clarence! I too would like to have some advice on poetry appreciation. Are there any good sites to help budding poets understand the laws that govern poetry appreciation?
- 0 Hi clarence!
- I too would like to have some advice on poetry appreciation.
- Are there any good sites to help budding poets understand the laws that govern poetry appreciation?
- 0-
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23 Answers
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0 Hi clarence! I too would like to have some advice on poetry appreciation. Are there any good sites to help budding poets understand the laws that govern poetry appreciation? 0-
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0 It's a vast area, so I doubt you'll find a single comprehensive site, but googling 'poetry appreciation' will give you a beginning and directions to go. 02 br
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00 As you are curious about the line breaks in 01 i 00 The Net 02 i 00 , Clarence, I'll give you my two yen. I don't know the author, but I don't think much of a couple of the line breaks here. (N
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00 As you are curious about the line breaks in 01 i 00 The Net 02 i 00 , Clarence, I'll give you my two yen. I don't know the author, but I don't think much of a couple of the line breaks here. (N
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0 01 blockquote
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00 Hello Benita 02 br
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00 One method is imitation. You take, say, a sonnet by Shakespeare; a song by Donne; a lyric
00 ...I too would like to have some advice on poetry appreciation. Are there any good sites to help budding poets understand the laws that govern poetry appreciation?... 12 blockquote12 br
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00 Hello Benita 02 br
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00 One method is imitation. You take, say, a sonnet by Shakespeare; a song by Donne; a lyric
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0 Hello MrP, 02 br
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00 A lot of helpful advice from both of you here - thank you Mister Micawber & MrP! As I see it, poem appreciation is something that one has to really work hard on. It is like learning how to appreciate a form of art (like a painting). Most certainly ain't a piece of cake! 05 0 010id 1
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00 A lot of helpful advice from both of you here - thank you Mister Micawber & MrP! As I see it, poem appreciation is something that one has to really work hard on. It is like learning how to appreciate a form of art (like a painting). Most certainly ain't a piece of cake! 05 0 010id 1
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0 Hi Mister Micawber, 02 br
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00 I really appreciate your reply. I was thinking it might turn out to be my greatest 'nightmare' if there are no real explanations as to how this kind of poetry could be written. So far, I’ve not found any books that could give me a clear idea. "The bigger question" you mentioned really enlightens me; I've never thought of looking at the poem f
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00 I really appreciate your reply. I was thinking it might turn out to be my greatest 'nightmare' if there are no real explanations as to how this kind of poetry could be written. So far, I’ve not found any books that could give me a clear idea. "The bigger question" you mentioned really enlightens me; I've never thought of looking at the poem f
00
0 Hello Benita 02 br
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00 Yes indeed – though it needn't be such hard work for the ordinary reader; I was writing with your comment about 'budding poets' in mind! 02 br
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00 I suppose there's no reason why training oneself to write poetry should be any easier than training oneself to write symphonies. But at least you don't need special paper. 02 br
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00 Yes indeed – though it needn't be such hard work for the ordinary reader; I was writing with your comment about 'budding poets' in mind! 02 br
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00 I suppose there's no reason why training oneself to write poetry should be any easier than training oneself to write symphonies. But at least you don't need special paper. 02 br
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0 Hi Benita, 02 br
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00 I’ve done some searching in google for “free verse”. The best I’ve got is a explanation of what it is, and this after sorting out the rather overwhelming information on the subject of poetry. I’d like to get to know the sites you mentioned too! 00 0-
02 br
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00 I’ve done some searching in google for “free verse”. The best I’ve got is a explanation of what it is, and this after sorting out the rather overwhelming information on the subject of poetry. I’d like to get to know the sites you mentioned too! 00 0-
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0 Hi 01 a 01 span 00 MrPedantic 02 span 02 a 00 , 02 br
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00 Your advice sounds really ingenious to me! It also gives me an idea: maybe poems are first initiated and composed in the mind by forming a series of pictures? and then followed by the words? 02 br
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00 Your advice sounds really ingenious to me! It also gives me an idea: maybe poems are first initiated and composed in the mind by forming a series of pictures? and then followed by the words? 02 br
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0 Hello Clarence, 02 br
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00 1. I intended them primarily as a response to Benita’s comment about ‘budding poets’. But trying to do something always helps you to understand it. 02 br
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00 2. 00 00 I can't pretend to any expertise in this matter – my suggestions are merely based on my reading of what various poets have said about the process. I put th
02 br
00 1. I intended them primarily as a response to Benita’s comment about ‘budding poets’. But trying to do something always helps you to understand it. 02 br
02 br
00 2. 00 00 I can't pretend to any expertise in this matter – my suggestions are merely based on my reading of what various poets have said about the process. I put th
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Hi MrP,
Thanks a lot for your clarification. You mentioned:
"If you become adept at handling other people’s thoughts, and other people’s verse-forms, you’ll find it all the easier to handle your own – on those rare occasions when something turns up that seems worth writing about! 95% of a writer’s work consists of practising in readiness for the 5% that matters."
I like
Thanks a lot for your clarification. You mentioned:
"If you become adept at handling other people’s thoughts, and other people’s verse-forms, you’ll find it all the easier to handle your own – on those rare occasions when something turns up that seems worth writing about! 95% of a writer’s work consists of practising in readiness for the 5% that matters."
I like
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