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English Pastoral Poetry: From the Beginnings to Marvel
1952. First Edition. 256 pages. No dust jacket. This is an ex-Library book. Red cloth. Ex-Library copy, with expected inserts, stamps and inscriptions. Pages are lightly tanned and thumbed at the edges, with light foxing. Binding has remained firm. Boards are a little rub worn, slight shelf wear to corners, spine and edges. Corners are a little bumped. Spine ends are mildly crushed. Tanning to spine and edges. Boards are bowed. Book has a forward lean. Water marks to boards and spine.
- GenresPoetry
256 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 1972
About the author
Frank Kermode
185 books93 followersSir John Frank Kermode was a highly regarded British literary critic best known for his seminal critical work The Sense of an Ending: Studies in the Theory of Fiction, published in 1967 (revised 2003).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 12, 2018
Today as more people live in urban settings than in rural settings, pastoral poetry remains a somewhat insidious influence on human perceptions. The perception is that people are more honest in rural setting, kinder and more civil. Rural work – farming and animal herding – is more valuable and rewarding, more natural and wholesome. “Real Americans” live in the rurual U.S. City life is, of course, the opposite of all these and full of “unreal” Americans.
Just for a reality check: The murder rate in Wyoming is higher (4.2 per 100,000) than it is in New York City (3.4 per 100,000). Rape is more common in Anchorage than New York.
But anyway. Kermode does an excellent job outlining the history of pastoral poetry from the Greeks to the Romans to the English renaissance poets. The idea of the idyllic rural life has a long and rather sturdy history, remaining a cliché through thousands of years.
It is still present in today’s poetry, but Kermode’s book focuses on its presence in 16th and 17 century English poetry – which was probably it’s highlight. Even the Greek and Roman poems are presented in their 16th and 17th century translations. That makes this book a particular gem.
The poems, overall though, grow tiresome quickly. The rural theme grows bland quickly. The book features some good poets – Sidney, Spenser, Shakespeare, Jonson, Marvel, Herrick. While the English renaissance has a rough yet flexible English that is fascinating in its fluidity.
In form and topic, there’s very little creativity or adventure. The rhymes and rhyme schemes are unimaginative. The metaphors predictable. Even the music of the verse seems lacking.
To confess, I prefer epic poetry (erg., Iliad) and dramatic poetry (erg., Macbeth) over lyric poetry in general and pastoral poetry specifically. So, I’m not the target audience for this work.
The book, though, provides an excellent introduction to the form/style, and it does include some charming poems. If pastoral and nature poetry are your thing, I'd highly recommend this collection.
Just for a reality check: The murder rate in Wyoming is higher (4.2 per 100,000) than it is in New York City (3.4 per 100,000). Rape is more common in Anchorage than New York.
But anyway. Kermode does an excellent job outlining the history of pastoral poetry from the Greeks to the Romans to the English renaissance poets. The idea of the idyllic rural life has a long and rather sturdy history, remaining a cliché through thousands of years.
It is still present in today’s poetry, but Kermode’s book focuses on its presence in 16th and 17 century English poetry – which was probably it’s highlight. Even the Greek and Roman poems are presented in their 16th and 17th century translations. That makes this book a particular gem.
The poems, overall though, grow tiresome quickly. The rural theme grows bland quickly. The book features some good poets – Sidney, Spenser, Shakespeare, Jonson, Marvel, Herrick. While the English renaissance has a rough yet flexible English that is fascinating in its fluidity.
In form and topic, there’s very little creativity or adventure. The rhymes and rhyme schemes are unimaginative. The metaphors predictable. Even the music of the verse seems lacking.
To confess, I prefer epic poetry (erg., Iliad) and dramatic poetry (erg., Macbeth) over lyric poetry in general and pastoral poetry specifically. So, I’m not the target audience for this work.
The book, though, provides an excellent introduction to the form/style, and it does include some charming poems. If pastoral and nature poetry are your thing, I'd highly recommend this collection.
Displaying 1 of 1 review