The Principles and Progress of English Poetry: With Representative Masterpieces and Notes (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Principles and Progress of English Poetry: With Representative Masterpieces and Notes

Swinburne, and carried down to the present day, will, we are confident, be of rare and inspiring interest and value to teachers and pupils alike. In this latter effort our labors have been lightened by the generous cooperation of several of the most representative contemporary poets.

We have, in general, adhered to the plan of the former book. The design is to provide within the covers of one volume what is usually set forth in three volumes: (1) an introduction to the Principles of Poetry; (2) a survey of the Progress of English Poetry by its periods, together with critical sketches of the lives and works of the poets chosen as representative; (3) as much as possible of the poetry commonly read in prep aration for entrance to American universities, and such other poems as are illustrative of successive literary periods and adapted to the requirements of an introductory course in Eng lish masterpieces; (4) such notes as will aid the pupil in his study of the poems and increase his ability to appreciate and understand poetry not thus annotated.

For our former prefatory essay on the principles Of poetry, intended not primarily for use in class but for teachers, to to be retailed to younger pupils as occasion offers and discre tion dictates, we have substituted here a distinctively ele mentary Introduction to the Study of Poetry. This Intro duction covers only such topics as are essential to the informa tion of high school pupils. It aims to present the material as briefly and simply as possible, but still with something of the detail befitting a subject of wide scope, something of the explanation required by pupils unfamiliar with the study, and something of the literary sympathy and delight that cannot be conveyed in a categorical and dry as-dust statement. If the student is encouraged to make constant reference to the illustrative poems mentioned 111 the Introduction, he will learn to apply the principles and will derive keener enjoyment from poetry better understood. At the request of teachers the more comprehensive Principles of Poetry mentioned above will presently be republished in enlarged and independent form.

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