What's the best way to get into poetry?

Question

What's the best introductory text on poetry interpretation/theory, and can you compile a (short) reading list to get familiar?

Answer 1

These will get you started on the mechanics of poetry in most of its forms.

The Poetry Handbook
John Lennard
Oxford University Press, New York, NY

Creating Poetry
John Drury
Writer's Digest Books, Cincinnati, Ohio


The Haiku Handbook:How to write, Share, and Teach Haiku.
William J Higginson
Kodansha America, New York, NY

For a poetry reference, there are two main books that are used; the one I prefer (just a personal preference) is:

The Norton Anthology of Poetry, fourth ed.
Ferguson, Salter and Stallworthy
W.W. Norton & Company, New York, NY

For a variety of other famous poems, try:

The Best Loved Poems of the American People
Hazel Fellerman
Doubleday, New York, NY

good hunting

Answer 2

I do not consider each character demands to be depressing to be drawn to poetry. I imply, there could be an terrible lot of wasted distress if depressing individuals did not begin writing poetry, and there could be a long way much less quality poetry, however many poets write and they're completely happy as can also be. I consider any emotion is an Inspiration, however so much individuals understand happiness to be average. Like, you do not see many individuals writing books approximately how completely happy their existence was once, proper? It's continually books approximately how terrible their existence was once. Few individuals take happiness and run with it. I consider poetry unearths us first, we do not uncover it. Poetry drags us into poetry.

Answer 3

I am an instructor of poetry/creative writing in an adult education program at a local university. The textbook that I have used with great success is "Writing Poems" by Michelle Boisseau and Robert Wallace. They have 6 editions, depending on your wallet you can buy the current edition (which runs about $60) or you can go the used book route on Amazon.com. Any edition really is excellent. Start at the beginning and work your way through. There are a lot of poems in the book from classic poets like Walt Whitman to contemporary ones like Sharon Olds. Do all the exercises in the back of each chapter. (don't skimp). If one of the poets in a chapter "speaks" to you, go to the library and take out one of their books. And lastly read, read, read. Good Luck.

Answer 4

the way you get into poetry will depend on what sort of poetry you wish to write.

an excellent introduction to literary theory is ia richard's classic 'practical criticism'. it was originally written as the basis of new approach to reading poetry at cambridge in the 1920s, but it can also be used as an approach to writing.

handbooks on 'how to write poetry' (including almost all creative writing courses) will tell you how poetry has been written in the past.

this isn't what you want.

Answer 5

I want to second one of Kevin's books:

Creating Poetry by John Drury

That is a good book to start with.

Answer 6

I'm a writer. I can say this today because a great teacher once set me aside and said, "Forget about learning how to write stories. Go out and collect things to write about. Then sit down and study the words."

Thanks Dr. Camacho.

Answer 7

difficult aspect. browse onto the search engines. it could actually help!