The first chapter of both Part 1 and Part 2 are awkward. Though an excellent Writer and mentioning difficulties in association to contriving poetry, the introduction is unsettling. It might be similar to a couplet to develop a turnabout.
Professor Paul Fussell taught English Literature at Rutgers. He was born in California in 1924. He begun his career in the military and eventually he graduated from Harvard with a doctorate. Fussell was also a Member of the Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom.
After reading further, there is significant insight on writing poetry. Between the explanations and examples, it is easy to see how a similar writing device is useful to writing a poem. There are many methods to improving a poem. There is reasonable areas for artistic license even when a Poet is attempting to write a formal stanza, like a sonnet.
An insightful commentary relates to rhyme. Rhyme can be a utility to enhance a particular message. The emphasis on rhyming words develops a secondary plot within a poem, yet several poems do not exploit this device. They are famous and well written poems, though focusing on other poetic elements, such as: telling a story or imagery.
The book increased my knowledge of many poetic forms though familiar with scansion and rhyming patterns. While learning about the notation of scansion, scansion seems inadequate. Even in a small classroom, various Students were undecided on how many syllables a word has and where it is more pronounced. I forgot scansion until reading this book.
I use emphasis through pauses and timing, so it was refreshing covering the topic. In addition, the various opinions about what affect it has on the Reader was interesting. I may or may not agree with his advice, yet there is a greater ability to define what is happening in poetry.
English Students and Poets should read "Poetic Meter and Poetic Form." Though rambling occasionally, it clarifies information more than any comparable book, including, recent books on the topic of poetry. It is mostly a textbook and only slightly more fun to read. While topically interesting, it has specific audience.
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