Poetic Meter and Poetic Form

by Paul Fussell

book data

105 ratings, 3.84 average rating, 16 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		27%
4		38%
3		25%
2		7%
1		0%

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published

January 1st 1979 by McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages

binding

Paperback, 190 pages

isbn

0075536064 (isbn13: 9780075536062)

description

The title of this book may suggest that it is designed as a latter-day Gradus ad Parnassum to teach aspiring writers to produce passable verses. It is...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 148)

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05/17/08

Andrew rated it:

bookshelves: non-fiction, poetry

Read in May, 2008

Split into two main sections, Meter and Form (per the title). The meter section was useful, but, as another reviewer here has stated, suffers from a glut of examples. It drags on a bit.
I found the form section the better of the two: discussions of line, rhyme, stanza, and a selection of standard forms, such as the sonnet (of course).

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02/20/08

Dawn rated it:

Helpful but no imperative. A good explanation of prosody (without getting too lofty) and decent source for examples. I used the book to help my students scan poems better. *NOTE* The chapter on free verse is garbage.

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10/05/07

Lisa rated it:

Pretty good on the fixed forms (which I should know MUCH more about considering my profession). Utterly dismissive of anything innovative post-WW2. Sometimes this contempt is valid, sometimes not.

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09/03/08

Ron rated it:

Read in February, 2007

It would seem from the prevailing ratings for this book that I've overestimated the value of this book, but each rater, I'm sure his his own agenda; nevertheless, rarely have I read a work of reference that enthralled me as much as this one did, and I read it as one would a work of top-notch narrative non-fiction.

The book discusses clearly and thoroughly, but without wearing out its welcome, the principal meters and strucutures used by both traditional and "modern" (usually...more

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07/24/08

Leisha rated it:

Read in August, 2008

"What is wanted is the closest possible approximation of absolute density. For the texture of a poem must be dense: when old-fashioned critics assert that in a poem every vein must be rifted with ore, that is what, in their quaint way, they mean."

Urban density is what our exalted elders decided upon for Eugene: establishment of an urban growth boundary to salvage the farmlands, wetlands, wild places beyond. But the Amazon headwaters fall within the urban growth boundary, so...more "What is wanted is the closest possible approximation of absolute density. For the texture of a poem must be dense: when old-fashioned critics assert that in a poem every vein must be rifted with ore, that is what, in their quaint way, they mean."

Urban density is what our exalted elders decided upon for Eugene: establishment of an urban growth boundary to salvage the farmlands, wetlands, wild places beyond. But the Amazon headwaters fall within the urban growth boundary, so now--how to save them? Capitalists encroach upon the wild mystery, demanding their pound of flesh, catch of fish, corrupting industry. Maybe a hospital, a prison, a place for human beings to work or live, make enough money to buy the next thing, already obsolete, long ago planned that way, to deflect radicalism arising naturally from working-class leisure. Lane County Commissioners budget in herbicides to kill weeds
rodent houses, insect nests
feed reptiles, raptors, and their flighted, leathery cousins--bats.

I saw three eagles at the headwaters lately: two mature, one juvenile, gliding above the slough where herons rest lazily, visiting Canada geese assemble, mallards splash down noisily. I think of Central Park, a place carved out of concrete misery . . .

there must be space for wildness in the density. Is it given by Fussell, or neglected? Does he nod to nature in his caveat: "the closest possible approximation?" Let's give him that.

"the texture of a poem must be dense." Perhaps poetry is a weaving. Allow this weaving to be a dense one, multi-layered, warming. But suppose a semi-permeable membrane is wanted, substance that allows breath like a tea towel resting on rising bread or employed to filter coffee. I may not enjoy as much my unleavened bread with coffee-stained water as I love my wine, must racked time and time through holy cheesecloth, erasing bitterness from the flow of rich juice.

Take, and drink. This is my blood dense as water, 'cause that's what I'm made of. Mostly water, but also a fragrant summer breeze, making my breath after it flows over spiked leaves of flowering mimosa--how fine and insubstantial their brilliant petals, like strokes from my pen.

In fact it's so hot this summer, I prefer my clothing linen-light, loose-weaved, so coastal wind softly meets the sweat of my skin. Why density? Why this, only this dogma, with no other way to be?

If I strip in my yard, my breasts and belly sway gently; invisible particles bind my body, draw soft boundaries as they careen through empty spaces--space makes me, yet Fussell commands I make artful density. Hard cheese, not Swiss or a spreadable brie. Only one sharp flavor may please his critical palate.

PRAISE GOD I'm still a redneck, nobody woman. I'll spread triple-cream Camembert on my flat crackers, sip champagne full of fun, empty bubbles, & give you the finger while I surrender to frothy, indulgent excess.

"old-fashioned critics . . . quaint." Kinda like old-school chauvinism that praises only male poets and invokes a male reader? Mattie Peterson expends all her energy on rhyme, Emily belongs solidly (having been refined), Tess Gallagher for her opening, and Marianne Moore, the novelty who may demonstrate her superficial, feminine syllablism just to entertain jaded males--so far, these are my women, shyly inviting masculine criticism. So glad I'm here to amuse you, really. Can't think of anything else but that you might want and use me.(less)

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08/01/08

Denis rated it:

bookshelves: grad-school-masters, language, poetry, read-for-class, reference, undergrad

Read in October, 2003

I don't always agree with some of Fussell's pronouncements, but on the whole he gives a very nice introduction to the principles of prosody. The book's precision is one of it's great strengths, but it can also be a weakness on occasion when it leads to black and white depictions of things that are not so clear-cut. For anyone who is able to occasionally disagree with Fussell without feeling like those points of disagreement invalidate everything else, this book can a wonderful tool for any write...more

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12/09/08

Donna Rae rated it:

Read in October, 2008

a must read for any poet, Fussell is arrogant but worth it

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03/26/07

Mike rated it:

bookshelves: poetry

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2007

Fussell has a good grip on basic forms, especially within the world of formal (i.e. metrical and/or rhymed) verse, and if you don't know about the subject, he'll educate you. That said, there are two main problems, to my mind. The lesser one is a glut of examples, which tend to beat a dead horse -- we get it, Paul, enough already. The greater problem is Fussell's obvious distaste for free verse. Sure, he devotes a bit of time to it, but it reads as if it's out of obligation, and as if he rea...more

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09/09/08

Sherry rated it:

Read in September, 2008

recommends it for: students of formal poetry

I found this book, which was first published in 1966 I think, pretty conservative, not to say stodgy. Not an easy read, but I did discover some valuable ways to look at formal poetry. I hope I will be able to internalize them.

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01/21/08

J.R. rated it:

bookshelves: poetry

Read in January, 2008

Paul is a romantic born in the wrong decade. He presents some compelling arguments for the use of rhyme in modern poetry but understand the movement away from it. A clear and concise read.

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