What do you think?


Literature: Structure, Sound, & Sense
GOOD CONDITION. 5TH EDITION. 1998. TEXT has names of inside cover and about three chapters have some notes; most are unmarked. BINDING is tight and square COVER has light corner scuffs without much edgewear; one front corner took a harsh bump leaving a small scuff and wrinkle. prompt shipping, good service, careful packing. free Delivery Confirmation.
1441 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1956
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 8, 2022
we're doomed as a species
January 11, 2013
As a general rule, I don't post any books here that I haven't read completely (hence no design books since, honestly, I only hunt and peck through those). This is one exception to the rule. I haven't read every page of this. And I haven't read all the stories, but I've read every one of the considerable number of poems.
This was one of my dad's books. A text book, apparently. Printed the year I was born. When I went to college I took it with me... and it sits right now with its tattered spine on my secondary bookshelf. It's not as pretty as the volumes on my living room showcase shelf, but no single volume on my shelf deserves more credit for fueling my love for deep, challenging, artistic word-smithing.
Most memorable poems from the collection:
"A White Rose" John Boyle O'Reilly
"The 'Je Ne Sais Quoi'" William Whitehead
"Vergissmeinicht" Keith Douglas
"My Star" Robert Browning
"The Mill" Edwin Arlington Robinson;
"The Changeling" Charlotte Mew,
"Terrence This is Stupid Stuff" A.E. Housman
and
"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by that "British" poet who was born in St. Louis and had a fondness for practical cats.
This was one of my dad's books. A text book, apparently. Printed the year I was born. When I went to college I took it with me... and it sits right now with its tattered spine on my secondary bookshelf. It's not as pretty as the volumes on my living room showcase shelf, but no single volume on my shelf deserves more credit for fueling my love for deep, challenging, artistic word-smithing.
Most memorable poems from the collection:
"A White Rose" John Boyle O'Reilly
"The 'Je Ne Sais Quoi'" William Whitehead
"Vergissmeinicht" Keith Douglas
"My Star" Robert Browning
"The Mill" Edwin Arlington Robinson;
"The Changeling" Charlotte Mew,
"Terrence This is Stupid Stuff" A.E. Housman
and
"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by that "British" poet who was born in St. Louis and had a fondness for practical cats.
January 12, 2018
Normally I don't dignify school textbooks with reviews, but I think it's necessary to explain why I hate this book so much. Aside from containing multiple factual errors, this book is written in a tone that is pretentious and self-important to the point of giving the reader nausea. By far the worst part of an AP English class that I otherwise loved.
March 11, 2013
this book was very helpful for me.. to do my thesis... thx goodreads.com, n tahx all...
May 12, 2017
I, of course, did not read this in its entirety but am using this to teach AP Lit next year. Awesome book for any English teachers out there in need of any literary analysis guides. The poetry sections are incredibly thorough and offer great examples. I myself am HORRIBLE at poetry (I'm a reader/writer kinda gal) and already found incredibly helpful sections for crafting next year's lessons. Even as a student, if you can find a used copy, I have a feeling you will use the content of this book to improve writing and critical analysis. Great textbook.
November 20, 2025
Great short stories to reference. Really broadens my horizons as a reader. Absolutely terrible interpretations of structure, composition, writing style, etc. Very limited in scope, flexibility, and ideals, which is not what writing is about.
Great to lead an AP English class with IN REFERENCE, not verbatim.
Great to lead an AP English class with IN REFERENCE, not verbatim.
December 2, 2022
bleh
Helpful as a "this is standard teaching in schools."
Some good info.
But looks down it's nose at stories that smack of being "for the plebs." Forgetting that Shakespeare was pop entertainment in his day.
Helpful as a "this is standard teaching in schools."
Some good info.
But looks down it's nose at stories that smack of being "for the plebs." Forgetting that Shakespeare was pop entertainment in his day.
December 8, 2024
Fantastic work explaining with plenty of examples and discussion questions working through different short stories. Has a collection of classics in the back as well. Keeping on the shelf for future writing advice.
March 9, 2019
It was a textbook. It did its job well. Easy to understand, well-written, etc.
June 17, 2024
Read for the poems, otherwise it felt so obnoxious (but helped me learn).
March 4, 2025
it was so painful to read never again in my life will I pick up this book. I had to read it for an English class and I hated every second of it.
July 25, 2025
the book that taught me I love literature
May 14, 2008
The first class I took after I got sober was Intro to Computer Science at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, but later that semester they offered a 1/2 semester Comp I night course. I saved up my tips all week to pay for it and got another bartender to switch nights with me, and I was absolutely amazed that I could actually write a little bit. The next semester I ate UP the Comp II class, and at the end of the semester I went to turn my book back in at the bookstore, and this Lit book was on the used book clearance shelf for like a dollar. I read through it all that summer, and it's still weighted down with paper clips where I marked poems I liked. :)
January 26, 2010
From an old journal entry of mine; "My Favorites;
The Most Dangerous Game
The Destructors
I'm A Fool
Hills Like White Elephants
The Lottery
The Catbird Seat
The Rocking Horse Winner
A Jury of Her Peers
The Swimmer
The Death of Ivan Ilych
The Japanese Quince
The Red Wheelbarrow
Pied Beauty"
The Most Dangerous Game
The Destructors
I'm A Fool
Hills Like White Elephants
The Lottery
The Catbird Seat
The Rocking Horse Winner
A Jury of Her Peers
The Swimmer
The Death of Ivan Ilych
The Japanese Quince
The Red Wheelbarrow
Pied Beauty"
February 21, 2009
My favorite english teacher in the world snuck Dylan Thomas into my life. "rage, rage, against the dying of the light."
Read
September 5, 2009Literature; structure, sound, and sense by Laurence Perrine (1970)
March 15, 2011
No, I haven't read it all, (it's a textbook) but one of your better compilations. Always enjoy picking it up to read a selection. Good information and questions, too.
May 21, 2012
This is one of the best literature compilations I've ever come across. I've been lugging it around for years since my first college days and still find myself refering to it.
June 24, 2012
Use it all the time.
December 18, 2013
The didactic explanations and dull questions at the end of the poems kind of took away the joy of reading poetry, but at least the selection is very nice.
May 10, 2014
Rating is based on educational content and not on included stories, poems or dramas.
Read
November 1, 2014gRET!!!
January 10, 2015
Only read Othello.
Want to Read
March 31, 2015Nice book amd very helpful
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews





















