Introducing English Poetry

Introducing English Poetry by Dr. S. Priya Dharisini is a comprehensive textbook designed for first-semester students as part of the GEC syllabus under FYUGP. This book provides an in-depth exploration of English poetry, covering its fundamental aspects, major movements, essential elements, and critical theories.

Key Contents:

I. Introduction to Poetry (15 Marks)

• Definition: Understanding what poetry is.
• Types of Poetry: An examination of various poetic forms including sonnet, lyric, ode, ballad, epic, elegy, concrete poetry, dramatic monologue, and the slam movement.

II. Movements (15 Marks)

• Historical Movements: A study of significant poetic movements such as Metaphysical poetry, Romantic, Victorian, Modern, and Postmodern.

III. Elements of Poetry (15 Marks)

• Poetic Devices: Detailed analysis of literary devices and elements including simile, metaphor, personification, symbol, allegory, imagery, conceit, hyperbole, transferred epithet, meter, rhyme, sprung rhythm, synecdoche, paradox, anti-climax, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, euphemism, chiasmus, anaphora, litotes, apostrophe, enjambment, end-stopped lines, and zeugma.

IV. Theory of Poetry (15 Marks)

• Critical Theories: Exploration of significant poetic theories through key texts such as Coleridge’s “Fancy and Imagination” from Biographia Literaria (Chapters 13 & 14), Wordsworth’s “Preface to Lyrical Ballads,” and T. S. Eliot’s “Tradition and the Individual Talent.”

This textbook is an essential resource for students seeking a foundational understanding of English poetry, its diverse forms, historical contexts, and critical frameworks.