A History of Free Verse

About this book

This book examines the most salient and misunderstood aspect of twentieth-century poetry free verse. Although the form is generally approached as if it were one indissoluble lump it is actually a group of differing poetic genres proceeding from much different assumptions. Separate chapters on T.S. Eliot Wallace Stevens H.D. and William Carlos Williams elucidate many of these assumptions and procedures while other chapters address more general theoretical questions and trace the continuity of Modern poetics in contemporary poetry. Taking a historical and aesthetic approach this study demonstrates that many of the forms considered to have been invented in the Modern period actually extend underappreciated traditions. Not only does this book examine the classical influence on Modern poetry it also features discussions of the poetics of John Milton Abraham Cowley Matthew Arnold and a host of lesser-known poets. Throughout it is an investigation of the prosodic issues that free verse foregrounds particularly those focusing on the readers part in interpreting poetic rhythm.