[Gregory Dowling]

I teach a class in practical criticism. We look at a new poem each week, talk about it and then the students write a short essay. I talk them through the usual aspects of close analysis: imagery, form, metaphors, diction, register and many of the technical aspects, like metre and stanza-forms. The rules of our university state that students who don't attend lessons are still entitled to sit exams; this means that I have to recommend books for home-study for those students who can't come to class. Naturally, I'd like them to read and buy books like Western Wind but I have to be realistic and realise that most of them are looking for something shorter; this class is just one part of their language-exam and I can't impose too much on them. I wonder if anyone has any good suggestions for helpful brief introductions to practical criticism of poetry. The book will need to be available through Amazon, so nothing too long out of print, if possible.

[Stephen Collington]

Not to be too cute, Gregory, but there's always I. A. Richards' Practical Criticism. A study in misreading, it's eminently worth looking at for anyone interested in how poems work . . . and how readers work to make them malfunction. True, there isn't much in the book on nuts-and-bolts stuff like metrics and whatnot . . . but it amply makes up for that in terms of sheer entertainment value. Oh, and yes, it's more than eighty years old, but it's as true as the day the ink first dried on it, just truer.

But no doubt you know all that. I just wanted to put in a plug for an old favourite.

.

[Richard Meyer]

Perrine's Sound and Sense is an old standard, and I think it may still be around. It's a fine poetry handbook.

[RCL]

You might take a look at John Hollander's Rhyme's Reason. It's brief and very amusing.

I still like Brooks and Warren, Understanding Poetry, but it's on the fat side, as I recall.

Cheers,
Ralph

Oh, and Pinsky's The Sounds of Poetry, also brief.

[Rory Waterman]

John Hollander's book is very fun, and probably about the perfect length and depth for your purposes. I'd imagine James Fenton's Introduction to English Poetry is also about right. They're the ones I tend to recommend.

[Gregory Dowling]

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. All very helpful. In most cases I did know the books but needed to be reminded of them - and this is clearly the place to go to for such reminders. I confess I didn't know Perrine's book and will try and get hold of it. It sounds interesting.

Thanks again.