If you have ever felt mystified by, or unable to enjoy the significance of poetry, this book will lead you step by step to understanding and love of this branch of literature, guided by a gifted poet and teacher. The Art of Poetry is an excellent middle school or high school curriculum; it will teach the practice of reading a poem slowly and carefully, introduce students to the elements of poetry (such as imagery and metaphor) and the many forms that can make a poem, from sonnet to open verse. In the belief that practice is the best way to learn, this book is rich with explications, exercises, and activities. A biography of each poet is also included, along with a CD of a reading of many of the poems.
Endorsements:
“In her clear-eyed, passionate, and accessible account of the power poetry plays in our lives and in her careful and exact explanation of its craft, Christine Perrin provides an inspiring, accessible, and comprehensive introduction to the reading and writing of poetry. What I admire most about The Art of Poetry, is how it proceeds from Perrin’s deeply lived and felt convictions about the necessity of poetry and from her experience as a gifted poet.”
-Michael Collier, Former Poet Laureate of Maryland; Professor of Creative Writing, University of Maryland; Director of the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference
“It is rare for one person to embrace both the structure and the impact of poetry. Consequently, most instruction in poetry is dominated either by the mechanics or by the emotional content, either of which sell short the richest method of human communication. Christine Perrin relishes all aspects and all types of poetry. She has managed to write a book that will enable teachers to teach students to understand its richness. Every teacher that has avoided poetry as difficult or intimidating to teach can now teach it with confidence and enjoy it as well.”
-Leslie Y. Moeller, Publisher, Society for Classical Learning
Excerpt:
There has never been a civilization without poetry. From the beginning of time, people have sought to turn their thoughts, feelings, and stories into memorable speech to share with others. Using language, the poet preserves something precious in the world by allowing us to live next to her, to see what she sees, to enter the experience she has built for us with her words and attention to the moment. Poetry acknowledges something deep within our nature – an urge to name, say, sing, grieve, praise, out of our solitariness, to another person. It makes words into a material thing, hard and solid as a table, dense with significance.
-from the Introduction
Sample Chapter:
Art of Poetry (PDF)
The Art of Poetry Blog
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Online Course on The Art of Poetry
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About Christine Perrin
Christine holds a B.A. in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University and an M.F.A. (Master of Fine Arts) from the University of Maryland, where she concentrated in poetry. Christine has taught literature and poetry at Johns Hopkins University and Messiah College. She has also taught units of poetry at various K-12 schools, teaching at every level. Christine has published many poems in publications such as Image Magazine, The Sewanee Review, Tri-Quarterly, Christianity and Literature and many others. Christine is currently a half-time professor of English at Messiah College, where she has taught for over five years, and a popular conference speaker on the subject of poetry.
