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Poetics

Christine

From Accentual Verse to Villanelles...a review of "How to Interpret Poetry"

Did you ever read a poem and wonder to yourself why it qualified as poetry? Do the words trochee, spondee and pyrrhic strike fear in your heart? Did you know that Doggerel is an actual type of poetry? All of this information is in How to Interpret Poetry by Laurie E. Rozakis, PH.D., 2nd edition, copyright 1998.

This marvelous, 134-page book has a permanent place beside my computer. Written as a study guide and reference, it quite simply has everything you want to know about poetry. How to Interpret Poetry not only explains different types of poetic verse, but tells of their origins. It contains complete explanations of meter and rhyme (remember 'pyrrhic'?). When turning the pages of this book, I found the explanations of poetic devices such as imagery, allusion, and internal rhymes impressive. Not only does the author clarify these things, she helps us to understand how to use (and not over-use) each one to create the desired effect.

In addition to unlocking some of the mysteries that confront us when we see a contest or submission regulation that calls for an Epithalamion, or perhaps something in Macronic Verse, How to... also explains the subtle contrasts between a Pindaric Ode and a Horatian Ode, and the variations of ballads, epics, and sonnets. For those enthusiasts of unrhymed verse, there is plenty of information on 'free verse', 'blank verse', and 'accentual verse' - yes, there are even differences in these; they are not synonymous.

O.K., O.K., you say. Who cares? I will admit, I thought there was more here than I would ever want to know, but I keep returning to the book for more of its limitless information. After poring over all the details of poetry, I reached the sections that help one recognize the finesse and gain greater understanding of works by an endless list of masters such as Walt Whitman, Dylan Thomas, Thoreau, and Shakespeare.

As I mentioned before, this is a study guide. The last few chapters contain analyses of a few classic and modern poems, and actually have exercises to test your new-found skills in interpretation. The final chapter is dedicated to a list of suggested reading - and if you read just a small percent of the authors mentioned, you will fall in love with poetry all over again.

Amazon lists 57 titles bearing Laurie Rozakis' name as author or co-author, such as The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creative Writing and Power Reading. She is knowledgeable and informative, and presents her subject in a manner that is easy to understand. How to Interpret Poetry is published by MacMillan, Inc. and is an ARCO book, now owned by Petersons. It can be found in most major bookstores, and the suggested retail price is $9.95 U.S., $14.95 Canadian, but if ordered online, a 20% discount is allowed. If you are serious about your poetry, then this book is a must. It will help you not only read better, but write better as you gain more knowledge of your craft.

This is the first of a series of reviews of books on Poetics and Poetry. Watch future editions of T-Zero as we present information other publications of interest.