The Rhythms of English Poetry

Front Cover
Routledge, Jul 10, 2014 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 410 pages
Examines the way in which poetry in English makes use of rhythm. The author argues that there are three major influences which determine the verse-forms used in any language: the natural rhythm of the spoken language itself; the properties of rhythmic form; and the metrical conventions which have grown up within the literary tradition. He investigates these in order to explain the forms of English verse, and to show how rhythm and metre work as an essential part of the reader's experience of poetry.

From inside the book

Selected pages

Contents

THE RHYTHMS OF ENGLISH SPEECH
8
THE FOURBEAT RHYTHM
25
THE FIVEBEAT RHYTHM
WHAT IS A METRICAL RULE?
THE FUNCTIONS OF POETIC RHYTHM
SOME EXAMPLES
RULES AND SCANSION
Bibliography
Sources of examples
Index
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2014)

Derek Attridge

Bibliographic information