Very Short Introductions Poetry: A Very Short Introduction (Paperback)

Poetry arguably has a greater range of conceptual meaning than perhaps any other term in English. At the most basic level everyone can recognize it--it is a kind of literature that uses special linguistic devices of organization and expression for aesthetic effect. However far grander claims have been made for poetry than this -- such as Shelley s that the poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world and that poetry is a higher truth. In this Very Short Introduction Bernard O Donoghue provides a fascinating look at the many different forms of writing which have been called poetry -- from the Greeks to the present day. As well as questioning what poetry is he asks what poetry is for and considers contemporary debates on its value. Is there a universality to poetry? And does it have a duty of public utility and responsibility? ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.